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Winter Colds

© Deanna Couras Goodson

We're in the heart of winter. The groundhog has decided that we're going to have 6 more weeks of the cold stuff. For some parts of the world, it'll be longer than that.

When winter happens, so do colds.

What is a cold?

Are there things you can do to avoid getting sick?

What happens when you get sick?

How can you feel better if you're struck down with a cold?

When you try to define the word "cold," you get a lot of big, medical terms. A cold really isn't all that bad. It's a virus. A virus is a type of infection that travels in a variety of ways (by handshakes, using 'infected' cups, etc.). It attaches itself to your cells.

Viruses cause your body to get sick. A cold affects your upper respiratory system. That's the area of the body that handles your breathing - like your chest. Your ears, nose and throat can also be affected by a cold.

So, a cold is a virus spread by germs that causes you to feel pretty yucky. Your nose can run or be stuffy (or both). You may have a mild fever. Your body is tired. You may sneeze and cough a lot, too. Your ears may feel a little pain and your throat might be sore.

Sometimes, colds - if they last too long - can lead to ear infections, strep throat, sinus infections and other icky illnesses. These usually need your doctor to prescribe special medication for you to feel better. That medication is called an antibiotic. It can "kill" certain types of germs.

There is NO such medicine to kill the cold germ. You may be sick for about a week with a cold. You may have to miss school. You will have to drink lots of fluids like water and maybe even chicken soup. You will need to get your rest.

Your mom or dad will probably give you some medicine for the pain and fever, if you have one. Sometimes, you may have to take cough syrup - some don't taste too bad; others are gross.

Yuck-a-doodle!

It's important to know that you will get better - and that everyone gets colds. They're the most common illness out there, especially during the winter.

For more information, check out these articles:

Kids and Colds
http://www.co.ba.md.us/Agencies/health/c...

Keeping Kids Free of the Common Cold
http://childparenting.about.com/library/...

The copyright of the article Winter Colds in Kids' Health is owned by Deanna Couras Goodson. Permission to republish Winter Colds in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.