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By
Catherine Pruissen
Winter
- the cold, flu, and don't you just hate it runny
nose season. According to the Canadian Pediatric Society,
children in large group settings are likely to average
10 colds per year.
Those
colds are the result of close contact with infected
children who have innocently left their secretions
an toy and other play objects, or by healthy children
inhaling droplets from the constant flow of sneeze
and coughs. And with over 100 different respiratory
viruses lurking in the shadows, and the fact that
children have not build up an immunity to these viruses,
it is little wonder that for the first five years
of a child's life winter seems like an unmitigated
treasure-trove for colds.
The Canadian Pediatric Society, in their "information
for sharing" sheet, A Parents Guide To Colds And Flu
In Children, recommends, " For the relief of pain,
aches or fever greater than 38.5 c, acetaminophen
(Tylenol, Tempra, Panadol, other) is preferred. Asprin
(acetylsalicylicacid) or any medication containing
it should be avoided in children and teenagers because
it can lead to brain and liver damage (Reye Syndrome)."
When
it come to a child care provider administering any
type of medication, parents must be certain they give
explicit instructions as to the times and quantities
to be given. For this purpose most centers and licensed
day homes have special medication slips which are
filled out by the parent whenever medication is involved
in the care.
If
this is not the case, a parent should complete a form
like the following, and give it to the provider. Parents
may also want to show the provider exactly how they
measure the medicine, leaving little chance for mishaps.
(See
Business Forms
in our Exclusive Products
section to order ready-to-use Weekly
Menu forms.)
Parents
will be happy to know that as a child gets older and
becomes immune to more and more viruses, the amount
of colds they get will become fewer and fewer.
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