Key News in Family Medicine January 21, 2019 (1 of 2)

Vitamin C to keep germs. Never go out with wet hair. Stay inside.

Despite little or no evidence suggesting that these types of methods actually help people avoid catching or preventing colds, more than half of parents have tried them with their children, according to the CS National Child Health Survey. Mott Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan.

The good news: almost all parents (99%) say their approach to cold prevention is based on rigorous personal hygiene, which science says prevents the spread of colds. These strategies include encouraging children to wash their hands frequently, to teach them not to put their hands near their mouths or noses, and to discourage children from sharing utensils or drinks with others. . Yet 51% of parents gave their child a vitamin or an over-the-counter supplement to prevent colds, even without proof of their effectiveness. Seventy-one percent of parents also claim that they are trying to protect their child from colds by following "non-evidence-based" folk tips, such as preventing children from going out with wet hair or encouraging them to spend more from time to time inside.

Colds are caused by viruses that spread most often from person to person. The most common mechanism comes from mucous droplets in the nose or mouth that are transmitted by direct contact or in the air by sneezing or coughing and landing on the hands and face, or on surfaces such as doorknobs. faucets, counters and toys. "The positive news is that the majority of parents are following evidence-based recommendations to avoid catching or spreading colds and other diseases," said Gary Freed, MD, MPH, co-director. from the survey and pediatrician at Mott.

"However, many parents also use supplements and vitamins whose effectiveness is not proven in the prevention of colds and which are not regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration. These products are subject to intensive publicity and widespread use, but none have independently demonstrated that they have a definitive effect on cold prevention. "

There is no evidence that giving a child vitamin C, multivitamins or other products advertised to strengthen the immune system is effective in preventing colds. Freed notes that it is not necessary to prove the effectiveness of supplements and vitamins in order to sell them. Folklore strategies, he adds, have probably been pbaded on from generation to generation and started even before people know that germs are actually the cause of diseases like colds.

Fortunately, even more parents are using cold prevention strategies supported by science. In addition to helping children adopt good hygiene habits, 87% of parents keep children away from already sick people. Sixty-four percent of parents said that they were asking parents who have a cold to not hug or kiss their child, and 60% would omit a date of play or activity if the other children who attended were child were sick. Some parents (31%) avoid playgrounds during the cold season. Eighty-four percent of parents also integrated their child's environmental sanitation as a strategy for preventing colds, such as frequent washing of household surfaces and cleaning toys.

On average, children of school age suffer from three to six colds a year, some lasting up to two weeks. "When children have a cold, it affects the whole family," explains Freed. "Colds can lead to lack of sleep, being uncomfortable and missing out on school and other obligations. All parents want to keep families as healthy as possible. "

But, he adds, "It's important for parents to understand what cold prevention strategies are based on evidence. While some methods are very effective in preventing children from catching colds, it has not been proven that others could actually tell the difference. "