The trick to overcome colds, flu, etc.

Once the 'deal' with colds, flu, abdominal pain, and ear infections, everyone has his own theory. Some theories passed down for generations, or are obsolete. Some still seem reasonable. To be sure, many theories are misguided. Here are the facts behind these myths:

"Give the cold food only."
FACT: "All children (and adults) who are sick - whether catching colds, fever, or both - need adequate nutrition and fluids to get well," said Leigh Ann Greavu, nutrition expert from St. Paul. If your child reluctant to eat solid food, just give chicken soup, juice, or even ice cream.

"Greenish mucus mean children are more severe illness than a cold."
FACT: Not always. Despite the clear mucus look more 'normal', snot green or yellow can also just symptoms of colds. Even so, clear mucus plus continuous high fever, decreased appetite, cough, and nasal congestion can be a symptom of a severe bacterial infection, which requires antibiotics.
    If a child mucus often green or yellow, maybe some other disorders (enlarged lymph glands, for example) that triggers recurrent bacterial infections. If this is the problem, let the pediatrician who examined the child's condition.

 "Colds and the flu most contagious before symptoms develop."
FACT: Both are most easily spread when symptoms are severe-severe disease. This is because the infection is spread by splashing fluids containing the virus when coughing or sneezing, or contact via hand-to-hand. Although the possibility of contracting (or transmission) was greatest when the child is not feeling well, the risk continues to lurk as long as snot still runny. Although the child was almost healed, others to let mama get ready to prevent the occurrence of disease in children.

"Fever which need not be treated lightly."
FACT: Depending on the child's condition. Fever does help a child's body fight infections by stimulating the immune system and kill bacteria and viruses can not survive in temperatures above normal. But, that's no reason to make the child feel unwell. "Try to do a balance between making the child comfortable and let him live his duty," said Daniel Levy, MD, assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. If including mild fever, but the fussy child, lethargy, or pain, give acetaminophen or ibuprofen in appropriate doses. So, he will feel (plus sleep) better. If he remains cheerful and energetic even though his body temperature as high as 38.9 ° C, you can simply look know  only (make sure he does not dehydrate the body). Exception: If a baby under the age of 6 months of fever, a fast take it to the doctor.

"P.N.A.R. most okay to diarrhea. "
FACT: Bananas, Rice, Apple Sauce, and Toast can indeed thicken dilute the little pup. Although efficacious, a plate of rice, with banana for dessert, do not always arouse the patient. "Children will quickly recover when you give him the food he wants," says Andrea McCoy, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Temple University, Philadelphia. (Do not forget, avoid a variety of spicy and fatty foods, and fruit juice.)

"Do not kiss your baby if you are cold."
FACT: "A peck on the lips of your baby's not okay," says Neil Schachter, MD, author of The Good Doctor's Guide to colds & flu. In contrast to sneeze or a cough that is able to sprinkle the fluid containing the virus from your airways, the saliva in your mouth contains very little cold viruses. So, you may not transmit the disease through kissing. To be sure, the best way to prevent your little one catch a cold you: Frequently wash your hands.

"Colds cause ear infections."
FACT: Apparently so. However, all of colds caused by viruses, while 90% of ear infections due to bacteria. So, why do kids always get an ear infection when a cold? "Runny nose produces mucus and fluid that clogs the ear canal - a fitting environment for ear infections - so that bacteria will proliferate," said Ari Brown, MD, author of Toddler 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for Your Toddler.

Food (and drink) that compose
When flu
When the child's nose congestion, coughing, or throat inflamed making it difficult to swallow, increase fluid intake. This method can thin the phlegm and make it out easily when the child coughs. "Give your child plain water first and then ice pops. Diluted fruit juices are good too, but just enough, "said Michele Peterson, MD, a pediatrician at the Pediatric Clinic HealthEast Woodbury, Woodbury, Minnesota. When strep throat, either hot or very cold drinks can be equally throat children: hot tea, hot chocolate, ice pops, or frozen juice. Should avoid grapefruit juice, because these drinks contain acid and can injure the throat of some children. (If orange juice does nothing for the little guy, so give it.) To encourage Nora (2 years) to want to drink when cold, Joanna Carrell of Lee's Summit, Missouri, gives a drink from a glass that has a straw. "He may use a straw when sick. count as a 'gift,' "said Carrell. "Half a cup filled with juice, the other half with water. It's the best way to ensure your child drink enough, especially when the nose is blocked and will not drink anything, "he added. Chicken soup, of course, is the classic herb to overcome colds and sore throats. Research shows, chicken soup was efficacious to overcome inflammation and lowering movements neutrophils - immune cells that stimulates secretion of mucus. homemade chicken soup or canned - even broth alone - are equally effective you know. When children are in the mood to eat, add the boiled macaroni.

For stomach ache
The liquid is very important when children diarrhea, especially if accompanied by vomiting. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children with stomach flu should be taken to the emergency room due to dehydration. Often, when a child vomited, parents are actually limiting your intake of drinks, solely in order to stomach 'cool' again. "Apparently, this wrong way," said Beth Gleghorn, MD, director of the division of gastroenterology at Children's Hospital and Research Center, Oakland. Do not give solid food and water, which is not too 'friendly' with the digestive tract as the stomach flu. So, you have to be careful when giving the proper fluid. This is how:
For babies

    If you are breastfeeding, often gave him milk. If the baby vomits after feeding, wait for 20 minutes and try feeding again. "That way, you still managed to put something, even if he spat it out," said Dr.. Gleghorn. If the baby is constantly sick, and you feel he was a little dehydrated, stop breast-feeding for several hours and give 1 tablespoon of ORS every 10-15 minutes, until finally stopped vomiting. After that, then you can feed him again.
    If your child drink milk formula, stop giving milk and 1 tablespoon give ORS. Wait up to 20 minutes, and give 1 tablespoon again. One easy way to incorporate the liquid into the child's body is through the drug pipette. "As soon as the baby's condition improves, folding double the amount of liquid in the pipette," said Dr.. Peterson.

For children, ages 1 year upwards

    "Give 1 or 2 tablespoons of ORS every 20-30 minutes," advises Andrea McCoy, MD, associate professor of pediatrics at Temple University, Philadelphia.
    If the child is still vomiting as well, wait for 30 minutes and give it another try.
    If the child can swallow, bit by bit add the amount of liquid until he could drink as much as 2 tablespoons every 10 minutes.
    Do not worry if you (feel) gave exceed recommended doses, because ORS is not a medicine. The only reason to give him little by little is to help him swallow.
    At the age of 3 or 4 years old, the child will reject something that tastes bad. "Try to trick him by mixing the liquid with a slightly sweet drink," advises Dr. McCoy. "This will not increase the sugar levels, and can disguise the salty taste," he added.
    If the child only diarrhea without vomiting, not eating anything ORS. However, you can also give other fluids, such as water or milk. But, forget the fruit juice, yes, "said Dr.. McCoy.
    If the child is asleep - and no signs of dehydration - do not wake him to drink again. In order condition improves, he needs a break, too.

For children who began to improve
Several hours after the vomiting stops, you can give your child fruit juice. Also, you can give him food in small portions. The goal is that the child return to regular eating patterns of interest, with some exception. For 1-2 days, do not offer the child a sweet drink, orange juice or other acidic beverages, plus foods high in sugar, spicy, or greasy. Instead, give kids who are in a period of recovery is a simple food, like crackers, cereal, pancakes (no butter, and a little syrup), or bread spread with peanut butter. Chicken soup and crackers salty quite okay, because he needs to replace lost sodium. Lydia voles from Ossining, New York, cut the grilled bread with dinosaur-shaped cake printer, so that his children, Jack and Cal Lepkowski (8 and 5 years) are tempted to eat. There used to be recommended, the milk should be shunned once the stomach flu. Now, this is no longer valid, said Dr.. McCoy. "Once the vomiting stops, and the child feels comfortable, he can come back to drink milk," she said. Just, start Perlan-land. In most cases, will not worsen diarrhea.

For fever
If the child has a fever, but no vomiting or diarrhea, he still needs fluids. "Give me a few sips of diluted juice, or milk," said Dr.. Peterson. Apple sauce, soups, and fruit (fresh or canned) also contain plenty of fluids. Although children with a fever is usually not in the mood to eat, the following options can really attract attention. Try: apple sauce added some raisins and a little ground cinnamon; peach pieces placed on top of vanilla frozen yogurt, or club soda added cran-raspberry juice cold. Remember, if the child has a fever, abdominal pain, or flu, it took about 1-2 days before he could eat normally again.