by Borden Black

Tracye Traywick cringes every time she sees children stick their hands in their mouths. The nurse at Mulberry Creek Elementary in Harris County knows that can mean the spread of germs and the transmission of colds and flu. “I am a germ freak,” she admits. She is constantly telling kids to wash their hands and to keep their hands away from their eyes, noses and mouths.

Dr. Ritu Chandra, a pediatrician who is opening a new practice in Phenix City, says because kids’ immunities are not fully developed, they are more susceptible to colds. “The body learns to fight and respond to viruses,” she explains. In the winter, children are even more at risk because viruses thrive in the dry conditions and children and adults are confined inside, in close quarters.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports the average child will have two to nine viral respiratory illnesses a year. The experts say prevention is the best cure.

Good basic hand hygiene is the most important thing, says Darlene Shirley, Muscogee County School District lead nurse. Frequency and duration do matter. “We teach them to sing a song when they wash hands,” says Traywick, “usually singing the ABCs. That’s about the amount of time it should take to wash their hands.”

She says repetitive teaching is important. At Mulberry Creek they begin teaching about hand washing in pre-kindergarten. Faculty and staff remind them to wash before and after lunch and after they go to the bathroom. Traywick goes into the classrooms to continue the lessons. “The story I read to them tells how germs get into the body by touching the eyes, nose and mouth.” She also sends home letters and brochures during cold season, encouraging proper hand washing.

Traywick says her efforts have paid off, and she sees older children washing their hands more frequently.

If soap and water aren’t available, sanitary wipes are effective. Shirley reminds that dirt and debris should be removed first, or it will just turn into mud and be even worse. Children should also rub their hands thoroughly until the alcohol has dried.

The main way colds and flu are transmitted is through droplets from the cough or sneeze of an infected person. Dr. Chandra says children need to be taught to cover the cough. The preferable way is with a tissue. If not available, she says it is best to cough into your sleeve. If you cover your mouth and nose with your hand and then touch something, the virus will spread.

She also advises parents and day care workers to clean all surfaces. According to the CDC some viruses and bacteria can live up to two hours or more on surfaces like cafeteria tables, doorknobs and desks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends using 1/4 cup chlorine bleach in a gallon of water.

Getting adequate rest and good nutrition is also recommended as helpful in fending off winter colds and flu.

If a child does come down with a cold or flu, Traywick says they need to be kept home from school until they have been without fever for 24 hours to prevent spreading illness to others.

Bed rest and fluids are among the best treatments according to Dr. Chandra. For those more than a year old, over the counter medicines can relieve symptoms. She says in India, where she comes from, fresh ginger boiled in tea suppresses a cough well.

Parents are advised by the CDC that colds, flu, bronchitis and most sore throats are caused by viruses. Antibiotics do not help fight viruses and may do more harm than good by increasing the risk of antibiotic resistance.

Children and adults with viral infections recover when the illness has run its course. Colds caused by viruses may last for two weeks or longer. Viral infections can lead to bacterial infections, so patients should keep their doctor informed if their illness gets worse or lasts a long time.

Nearly 22 million schools days are lost each year to the common cold alone, the CDC reports. However, when children practice healthy habits, they miss fewer days of school. More information to help instill those healthy habits is available on line at www.washup.org and www.itsasnap.org.