Americans catch more than 1 billion colds and 60 million cases of the flu annually. Children may get up to eight colds per year, partly because viruses spread easily in schools and day care centers. While warm coats may aid your family members' immune systems, they will not be enough to keep your family free of colds or the flu throughout the winter.
Causes of Colds and the Flu
Influenza, also known as the flu, and the common cold are caused by viruses. Cold and flu viruses are spread when infected people touch their mouths or noses and then a surface or when they cough and sneeze the virus into the air in tiny droplets. Colds are contagious during the first two or three days, and the flu is contagious for up to a day before you feel sick and up to a week after it begins.
The Cold and Flu Season
Before the germ theory of disease was accepted, people noticed that they got sick more often during the winter months and concluded that the weather must be causing illness. We now know that these illnesses are more common during the colder months because more people are inside with closed windows during this time. These months also include the school year, which puts many children in close proximity and gives them ample opportunity to share pencils along with germs.
Effects of Cold Weather on Immune Function
In 2005, a British study found that volunteers were more likely to get a cold after sitting with their feet in cold water. They concluded that exposure to cold water limits blood flow to the nose and prevents germ-fighting white blood cells from getting to the cold viruses. As a result, people developed more cold symptoms. So while being cold can't cause a cold by itself, it may increase symptoms in a child who has already been exposed to a virus.
Staying Healthy in Cold and Flu Season
Because cold germs are spread through contact with germ-laden surfaces, frequent hand-washing is effective at preventing the viruses from reaching your mouth and nose. Teach children to wash frequently with soap or use a gel hand cleaner and avoid touching their faces with dirty hands. Ask your doctor about flu shots for your family, especially if your household has young children or people with underlying health problems. Finally, encourage your family to drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy food and get adequate sleep to keep their immune systems strong and ready to fight off infections.
