Herbs For Kids - Aviva Romm

17
Colds and Flu
Most parents will recognize the early symptoms of colds and flu — children rubbing itchy or
irritated eyes, a sniffle or runny nose, a sore throat, skipping a meal, and kids who just aren’t quite
“themselves.” Frequently a child will say, “Mom, my head hurts.” An adept hand to the forehead and
sure enough, you realize your son or daughter has a fever.
What Are They?
A cold is just a simple, common viral infection that affects the upper respiratory passages — nose,
throat, upper breathing passages, and ears. Most kids with healthy immune systems get over a cold
within a week with nothing more than tender loving care.
Influenza (flu) is a highly contagious, acute respiratory infection caused by influenza A or B viruses.
Symptoms include fever ranging from 102 to 104°F, severe achiness, sore throat, cough, lack of appetite,
and extreme lassitude.
In the past, influenza was dreaded and even now it occasionally causes fatalities, but this is usually in
the very young, in the elderly, and in those already weakened by malnutrition or other causes, such as
underlying diseases.
In most kids it is treatable at home but it can be really exhausting. Be prepared for kids to run high
fevers and sleep a lot for a few days. If kids who have the flu seem to get worse instead of better, seek
a doctor’s help. It is essential to provide adequate time, even up to a week, for recuperation after the
symptoms of influenza have passed.
Natural remedies can help relieve cold and flu symptoms faster, can
prevent what are called secondary infections, for example, pneumonia,
that can occur after viral infections, and can help prevent colds from
recurring. This is important because believe it or not, the average
American school-aged child has about 10 colds each year! Antibiotics
do not treat coughs caused by viral infections and are almost always not
indicated for coughs due to colds.
Most kids with
healthy immune
systems get over a
cold within a week
with nothing more
than tender loving
What Can You Do?
care.
The most important things to do for your child when he or she is sick
with a cold or flu are:
1. Encourage lots of rest.
2. Keep the diet light and healthy.
3. Give plenty of water, especially if there is fever; milk and juice can actually make chest and sinus
congestion thicker, so avoid them during an infection if possible, though sometimes if all kids will
drink is juice it is better than nothing.
4. Help your child feel as comfortable as possible.