Gunnison/Crested Butte Colorado Family Activity
Guide Winter 2006
Features
Health Tips for the Season
by Dr. Meg Thomco, MD
Winter is here. The days have gotten shorter, and the nights are colder. Everything is covered in a blanket of snow. There is no better place to enjoy the snow than in the mountains of Crested Butte! Here are a few helpful hints to stay healthy through the winter months.
The Common Cold and Young Children
A cold is the most common illness that your child will experience. A child can have eight to ten colds per year, and these are most concentrated during the winter months. Colds are very contagious and spread easily from person to person, sometimes even before symptoms are evident. For five to ten days, your child's nose may be runny or congested. Fortunately, most colds are caused by viruses and resolve by themselves without leading to anything worse.
Sage Mountain School photo. © 2006
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Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. The best thing to do is manage the symptoms to keep your child as comfortable as possible.
- When your child has a stuffy nose, he will likely breathe through his mouth, which can give him a dry, sore throat. Giving your child plenty of fluids can help soothe the dry throat and keep your child hydrated.
- Your child's appetite will likely decrease when she has a cold. It is most important to make sure she is staying hydrated with fluids, even Jello or popsicles. A usually healthy child will eventually eat when she is feeling better.
- Use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer to ease the stuffy nose.
- Provide lots of tender loving care.
Colds are caused by viruses so they do not respond to antibiotics. Actually, most over-the-counter cold medicines do little to help the symptoms and some may actually have some dangerous side effects like drowsiness. Other times, they can dry respiratory passages and make nasal secretions even thicker. Using saline solution in the nose can help loosen secretions and make it easier for your child to blow his nose. Medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) can help with fever and body aches.
Usually, children with a common cold do not need to be seen by a doctor. However, there are a few instances when it is important to contact your doctor.
- Your child has a persistent cough and cannot talk.
- Your child refuses even small amounts of liquids.
- Your child is excessively irritable or difficult to arouse or awaken.
- Your child is less than three months old and has a fever.
Prevention is the best way to fight the common cold. Teach your children to wash their hands often and cover their mouths when coughing or sneezing. They should also never share eating or drinking utensils with other people. If your baby is under three months old, the best prevention is to keep her away from people who have illnesses. Children sometimes have bloody noses with a cold, especially in winter's cold, dry air. Saline nose drops and a cool mist humidifier can help minimize these symptoms.
Fever
A fever is one of the most feared illnesses in children. A fever is basically a body temperature that is higher than normal. Everyone's temperature fluctuates depending on activity level, clothing, age and time of day. Body temperatures tend to be lower in the morning and higher in the late afternoon and evening. A temperature above 100.4 F is generally considered a fever.
A fever itself is not dangerous. It is an indication that your child's body is fighting an infection. It is not an illness in itself, only a symptom, and is not an indication that your child needs an antibiotic. Fevers are generally harmless and actually help your child fight an infection. Believe it or not, a fever is an indication of a healthy immune system that is working to fight an infection.
That said, ear infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections and the flu can cause a fever, so it is important to discuss your child's symptoms with a doctor. You should call your doctor right away if your child:
- Looks very ill, is very fussy or unusually drowsy.
- Has additional symptoms such as stiff neck, severe headache, severe sore throat, rash that appears to be bruising, or persistent vomiting and diarrhea.
- Has an underlying medical problem.
- Has had a seizure
- Is younger than three months of age.
Fevers make a child's heartbeat and breathing faster. The child may also appear flushed and will probably not have her usual energy level. Medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen (if the child is over six months old) can be useful to help the child feel more comfortable. Other measures that may help include dressing him in light clothing and providing plenty of fluids. Sponge bathing your child in lukewarm water often helps him to feel more comfortable, but it is important to not use cold water as that may cause shivering.
Never use alcohol to bathe your child because this can be absorbed into the skin and result in dangerous problems such as a coma. Since a fever likely indicates that the child is fighting an infection, you probably will not be able to bring the temperature to normal. However, bringing it down a few degrees will likely help your child feel more comfortable.
Diarrhea
Most diarrhea is caused by a virus and usually requires no medical treatment other than management of the miserable symptoms. In fact, even diarrhea caused by bacteria such as Salmonella can be made worse by antibiotic treatment in otherwise healthy children.
Anti-diarrhea medications can also be dangerous in children.
As long as there is no vomiting, most children can eat a normal diet,
including dairy products, if they have mild diarrhea. Children with moderate
diarrhea can also be cared for at home with special attention paid to
their hydration status. Often these children will benefit from temporarily
removing milk products as they may cause bloating or gas. Special fluids
such as Pedialyte are helpful to replenish lost electrolytes and fluids
during a diarrhea illness.
It is not unusual for diarrhea to last for up to two to three weeks. This is because the diarrhea causes the intestines to become irritated and have difficulty absorbing foods. Eating a regular diet as soon as possible will help shorten the course as much as possible.
It is important to watch for signs of dehydration. Symptoms of dehydration include a decrease in urination, no tears, dry mouth, severe listlessness and sunken eyes. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if these symptoms occur. Your child might need IV fluids for re-hydration. Also, call your doctor right away if your child develops blood in his diarrhea or has severe stomach cramps with the diarrhea.
It is inevitable that your child will be sick at least once during the winter. However, if you teach and practice good hygiene such as hand washing and covering the mouth with sneezing and coughing, the illnesses will be minimized.
It is also important to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and snow! Cold weather does not cause illnesses such as colds or the flu: Viruses do. So enjoy the outdoors.
Frostbite
Frostbite occurs when skin becomes frozen. Frostbite is most common on the extremities such as fingers, nose, ears, and nose. The skin may become pale, gray, and blistered and may feel painful or numb.
If frostbite occurs, bring the child indoors and place the frostbitten body parts in warm (not hot) water or apply warm washcloths. Do not rub the frozen areas. Keep your child warm and wrapped in warm blankets with warm liquid to drink. If the numbness lasts for more than a few minutes, contact your doctor.
Dr. Thomco graduated from Case Western Reserve University
Medical School and specializes in pediatrics. She is available in Crested
Butte at The Crested Butte Medical Center. Call 970-349-0321 for appointments.
She also practices at The Pediatric Associates in Montrose at 970-249-2421.
Mountain Kids Magazine, LLC, P.O. Box 1442,
Crested Butte, CO 81224