BODY TALK KIDS: Helping Your Child Get Over a Cold

CATCHING a cold is child’s play. While adults suffer an average two to five bouts a year, school kids are struck by between seven and 10.

Children are more prone to colds than adults because they haven’t yet built up as many antibodies as us.

There are about 200 different types of cold virus and you never catch the same one twice, as the body develops antibodies to fight off repeat infection.

That means the younger you are and the fewer colds you’ve had, the higher the risk of catching a new one.

Even if a five-year-old has caught 10 different colds a year, that’s only 50 in their lifetime – leaving them wide open to another 150 strains.

The hygiene habits of children make them more susceptible, too. The cold virus is spread by infected droplets of mucus splattered into the air by coughs and sneezes and by contaminated fingers that pass the virus via the nose, eyes and mouth.

Anyone can catch a cold by being coughed or sneezed on, or by touching something like an infected hand, toy or book, then touching their face to infect themselves.

The cold starts when the virus attaches itself to the nasal lining and infects nasal cells. If immunity is low, the virus is more likely to latch on.

Children suffer most because they come into close contact at school – plus they forget to cover their faces when coughing and sneezing and they use their hands as hankies.

Colds often hit them harder, too. As well as the usual sore throat, sinus pain, headaches and sneezing, children are more prone to fever, making them feel much more poorly than adults.

So how can we protect them? Follow our plan.

PREVENTION TIPS

WASH HANDS WITH SOAP – especially before snacks and lunch at school, or after holding hands or sharing toys.

BLOW NOSE PROPERLY – press a finger over one of the child’s nostrils while they blow gently to clear the other. Blowing hard can carry infected phlegm back into the ear passage, causing earache.

AVOID SNOTTY KIDS – get them to steer clear of poorly mates.

DON’T SHARE – anything that might be contaminated with infected nasal mucus, such as towels or gloves.

USE A SCARF – a cold nose weakens the nasal lining’s defences.

HAVE AN EARLY NIGHT – a strong immune system, boosted by sleep, is more able to ward off viruses.

AVOID FAST FOOD – a diet of fruit, veg and pulses, wholegrains, lean protein, dairy and water strengthens immunity.

PLAY OUTDOORS – exercise and fresh air keep the immune system healthy.

CUT OUT SWEETS – the adrenal glands react to them as if to a stressful situation and raise levels of stress hormone cortisol, knocking immunity.

HAVE AN ORANGE – vitamin C, packed in citrus fruits, wards off infection. A supplement is just as good.

GO TO SCHOOL ON AN EGG – one egg with wholemeal bread provides zinc, magnesium, selenium and iron, all immune-boosting minerals.

TAKE ECHINACEA – a herbal immune booster that works best when taken for short spells at times of high exposure. Try echinacea liquid extract for kids from Holland & Barrett.

MEDICINES

FOR headache, sinus pain, sore throat, fever or aches, use medicines containing paracetamol or ibuprofen. Calpol can be given from three months; Nurofen for Children from six months. Don’t give aspirin to the under-12s.

FOR a blocked nose, use products containing menthol such as Karvol capsules that you break on to the pillow or a vapour rub for the chest. Nasal sprays are only recommended for children over six.

FOR a cough and sore throat, syrups and lozenges are best. They won’t eliminate symptoms but can soothe.

.. OTHER REMEDIES

HAVE a hot shower with your child in the bathroom – the steam eases congestion.

GIVE them hot drinks and soup to soothe irritated throats – sucking boiled sweets and ice lollies helps, too.

GET them to drink water. It helps wash out the virus and keeps children hydrated if they have a fever.

USE an extra pillow. Elevating the head relieves nasal congestion.

CALL a doctor if symptoms don’t improve after three days or if your child’s temperature goes over 100 degrees.

Fussy eaters

Won’t eat

Fresh tomatoes

Rich in vitamin C, beta carotene and vitamin E – which all keep the immune system strong – plus the cancer-fighter lycopene. A child’s handful of cherry tomatoes counts as a veg portion.

Might eat

Tinned tomatoes

A gentler taste and tinned tomatoes can easily be disguised in pasta sauce, lasagne or shepherd’s pie. Canning depletes some of the vitamin C but enables the lycopene to be more easily absorbed.

Will eat

Cheese and tomato pizza

With plenty of tomato puree, a child’s individual pizza counts as a serving of tomatoes. Add a bit extra to supermarket versions and disguise with some grated cheese.

MUM’S BABY FOOD

PREGNANT women who diet too much or eat the wrong food could risk serious health problems for their children.

Research at Southampton University found expectant mums with poor diets had increased blood flow in their babies’ livers – thought to be a protective mechanism to ensure the foetus has enough nutrients. This could harm a baby’s liver and trigger heart disease or diabetes in later life.

FIZZY ISN’T FUNNY

CHILDREN who drink fizzy or fruit-flavoured drinks risk losing much of the health benefits from a balanced diet, warns the British Dental Health Foundation.

The charity says youngsters fond of the drinks – which often have added sugar – won’t receive as much benefit from eating vegetables, fruit and dairy products.

An American study found that pre-school children ate up to 18 teaspoons of added sugar in food and drink – and the same is probably true here.