Back-To-School Illness

Could there be anything worse than one of your little one getting sick? Yes, two little ones being sick! Followed by you catch something. You know everything comes to a halt when you get sick.

Unfortunately, cough, colds and flu germs spread quickly around the home and school. As kids bring home unwelcomed extras from school and then proceed to contaminate everything from the family Wii to your iPhone, you need to play defense.

Look Out for Early Symptoms

Types of coughs include those associated with a tickling in the throat, dry coughs triggered by cold air, wet coughs caused by mucus and nighttime coughs.

Signs and symptoms of the common cold may include sneezing, coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, a sore or an itchy throat and possibly a fever.

For the 2009 school year, flu symptoms are already here. Because there are various strains circulating this year, it’s possible for flu and flu-like symptoms to persist into its typically timeframe, ending sometime in March or beyond, despite it’s early appearance. Watch for these symptoms:

• fever,
• headache,
• extreme tiredness,
• dry cough,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose, and
• muscle aches.
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur. These symptoms are more common in children than adults.

Prevent Germ Transmission

Children (and parents) should take the following measures to try to prevent illness:

• Wash your hands frequently, including
  * before eating,
  * after using the toilet, and
  * after playing in public places, such as playgrounds.
• Cough and sneeze into the corner of your elbow.
• Periodically disinfect toys and common surfaces.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.

Be Prepared to Act at First Symptom

If your child does get sick, Boiron USA offers safe and reliable homeopathic medicines for children that can help alleviate the above symptoms.

Children’s Chestal simplifies choosing a cough medicine since its an economical all-in-one formula. Good for both day and night, It helps all types of coughs—wet or dry—that come on with a cold.

Children’s Coldcalm Pellets is designed to target specific symptoms of each stage of the cold—even early symptoms like a minor sore throat. It works on sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Children’s Oscillococcinum helps reduce both the duration and severity of flu and flu-like symptoms.

All of these medicines are considered top choices for self-treatment because the active ingredients in homeopathic medicines have no reported side effects. Active ingredients are micro-doses of natural ingredients and contain none of the substances questioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children. And you’ll love that kids love the sweet taste of all three.

So as children get involved in school this season, keep this information in mind to curb the onset of severe symptoms.