Jan 20, 09 | Posted by: Sharyl Paley, M.D.

Winter illnesses

It is official–after a busy day at the office  and being up two nights ago with my daughter who was throwing up, I can say with certainty that the winter illnesses have arrived.  Winter brings a wide range of illnesses. We see everything from the common cold to influenza to the stomach flu to bronchiolitis. While I see many people today obsessed with germs–myself included–there are simple things we can do to try to keep our families healthy.  First and foremost is to practice good handwashing.  Nothing helps prevent illness like washing your hands with soap and WARM water for at least 20 seconds.  Hand sanitizers are a great alternative too, as long as they are alcohol based.  You don’t have to clean your children’s hands every 10 minutes though. Simply washing before eating, after going to the bathroom, or any time they sneeze or cough into them can help. You can make it fun by singing a song like the ABCs or Twinkle, twinkle. Both are the perfect amount of time it should take to wash hands. Make sure your children are eating healthy and getting enough sleep. Also, if they seem run down or are starting to act a little sick, don’t push. Allow and encourage them to get the sleep that they need.  I see and hear of many patients who participate in sporting events even though they are sick. Not only does this spread illness, but it also can increase the sick child’s chance of getting sicker. No event is worth that.

So remember–good handwashing, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and not participating in events when sick can lead to a healthier, happier winter.

No Comments »