|
|
|
FROM: HERMANOFF &
ASSOCIATES, INC.
31500 W. Thirteen Mile Road
Suite 135
Farmington
Hills, MI 48334-2172 |
CONTACT: Mary
Banks
PHONE:248/851-3993 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BOTSFORD EXPERT’S TIPS ON HOW YOU CAN HELP YOUR CHILD AVOID
COLD SEASON’S ‘PRIMETIME’
Farmington Hills, Mich., January 4, 1999 – A runny nose and a soaring fever
is not a great way for anyone to kick off the new year. However, there are some
sure-fire ways to protect your young children from the perils of a bad cold this
season, says a Botsford physician.
“Actually, avoiding the spread of colds is two parts common sense, one part
determination,” says Botsford pediatrician Tarek Garada, M.D.
“What we call the “common cold” is actually a contagious viral infection of
the upper respiratory tract and can be caused by a number of run-of-the-mill
rhinoviruses or coronaviruses. Couple your child’s under-developed immune system
with the variety of settings and people they come in contact with on the average
day, and they have the potential of coming down with several colds in any given
season.
“One of the simplest — and most effective — ways of preventing the spread of
colds is handwashing,” he notes.
Garada suggests teaching a child to wash their hands thoroughly and
vigorously (both front and back) with soap and under running water:
 |
after coming home from school;
|
before meals;
|
after using the bathroom;
|
after playing; and
|
after spending time in public places, such as the mall.
|
| | | |
| |
“I always advise parents not to send their child to day care or
school if they have developed a cold,” Garada says. “It’s not only discourteous
to expose your child’s infection to classmates, teachers and their families,
it’s also callous to send a sick child out when they need plenty of fluids, bed
rest, and a big bowl of chicken soup.”
Good hygiene at home is also key, he says. Being particularly fastidious –
using anti-bacterial soap, washing floors and toys, not allowing a sick child to
share towels or playthings with others and, of course, a lot of good ol’ “TLC,”
are excellent preventative measures for keeping colds at bay.
“Unless otherwise directed by your pediatrician, never give your child
aspirin to treat fever or other cold symptoms,” Garada advises.
Lastly, he says, take your child to the pediatrician if cold
symptoms result in
| increased throat pain;
| coughing that lasts more than a week or produces green or gray sputum;
| a fever over 101ºF;
| enlarged glands in the neck; or
| shaking chills. |
| | | |
A member of the Botsford Health Care Continuum, Botsford General
Hospital is a 336-bed osteopathic teaching hospital located in Farmington
Hills. Botsford is affiliated with the Michigan State College of Osteopathic
Medicine. The Botsford site on the Internet is at http://www.botsfordsystem.org.
|
|
|
