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Now that fall has settled in, we will certainly see children get more colds. During infancy and the preschool years, children average seven or eight colds each year. School age children average five or six colds per year. Adolescents finally reach an adult level of approximately four colds per year.
Children get these infections because they are exposed to one or more of the estimated 200 cold viruses. The younger the child, the fewer viruses he has been exposed to and the less antibody protection he has acquired as a result. The rate of colds triples in fall and winter when people spend more time crowded together indoors, breathing re-circulated air. Smoking in the home increases a child’s susceptibility to colds and coughs, as well as ear infections, sinus infections, croup, wheezing, and asthma.
Children get over colds by themselves. The number of colds your child acquires will decrease over the years as his or her body builds up a good supply of antibodies to various viruses. Although you can reduce the symptoms, you can’t shorten the course of the cold. There are many over the counter medicines to treat the symptoms of colds, including runny nose and stuffiness, headache, etc. Never use aspirin to treat the symptoms of a cold in children. Aspirin can be a cause of Reyes Syndrome, a potentially fatal condition. As with any medicine, make sure you understand the directions for use, the side effects, and the proper dose. If you have any questions, ask your pediatrician or pharmacist for help.
For additional healthy kids tips, log onto baymed.org, scroll over "Health Checks & You" and join our "E-List." For more information about childhood diseases or development, contact Inez Balinska, MD or Darek Balinski, MD, McLaren Bay Region Pediatrics, Medical Mall, 1456 W. Center Road, Essexville. (989) 895-4840.
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