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Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
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Prevention
By Mayo Clinic staffNo vaccine has been developed for the common cold, which can be caused by many different viruses. But you can take some common-sense precautions to slow the spread of cold viruses:
- Wash your hands. Clean your hands thoroughly and often, and teach your children the importance of hand washing. Carry a bottle of alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60 percent alcohol for times when soap and water aren't available. These gels kill most germs, and are safe for older children to use themselves.
- Scrub your stuff. Keep kitchen and bathroom countertops clean, especially when someone in your family has a common cold. Wash children's toys after play.
- Use tissues. Always sneeze and cough into tissues. Discard used tissues right away, and then wash your hands carefully. Teach children to sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow when they don't have a tissue. That way they cover their mouth without using their hands.
- Don't share. Don't share drinking glasses or utensils with other family members. Use your own glass or disposable cups when you or someone else is sick. Label the cup or glass with the name of the person with the cold.
- Steer clear of colds. Avoid close, prolonged contact with anyone who has a cold.
- Choose your child care center wisely. Look for a child care setting with good hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick children at home. The number of children in the center directly relates to the number of colds to which your child will be exposed.
References
- Gwaltney JM. The common cold. In: Mandell GL, et al. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/107482514-6/0/1259/1.html?tocnode=51375605&fromURL=1.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Health matters: The common cold. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of influenza and the common cold. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Common cold. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/commonCold/. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Many OTC medications not recommended for cough treatment. American College of Chest Physicians. http://www.chestnet.org. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Mabry RL, et al. Allergic rhinitis. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/108305975-4/763572162/1263/394.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50045-9--cesec13_1707. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
- New cough guidelines urge adult whooping cough vaccine. American College of Chest Physicians. http://www.chestnet.org/. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
- Infant deaths associated with cough and cold medications - United States, 2005. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/media/mmwrnews/2007/n070111.htm. Accessed Oct. 23, 2008.
- Hopkins AB. Chicken soup cure may not be a myth. The Nurse Practitioner. 2003;28(6):16.
- Zinc. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
- Reynolds SA, et al., Hand sanitizer alert. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no03/05-0955.htm. Accessed Oct. 3, 2008.
- Aminoff MJ, et al. Disorders of cognitive function - Reye syndrome. In: Aminoff MJ, et al. Clinical Neurology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2079232&searchStr=reye+syndrome. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
- Echinacea. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Transcript of FDA press conference on cough and cold medicine. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/transcripts/2008/coughcold_transcript011708.pdf. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
- FDA statement following CHPA's announcement on nonprescription over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01899.html. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
