This year’s flu season is slowing down, but what should you do if one of your kids does get sick? Since there are so many myths about how to treat the cold or flu out there, we decided to ask one of our experts for the truth.
Read what Jeffrey Kahn, M.D., Ph.D., division director of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Medical Center, has to say about some of the most common myths we all hear during cold and flu season, which generally runs until April in the Dallas area.
| MYTH | TRUTH |
|---|---|
| Kids catch colds when they do not wear socks. | There is little, if any, scientific or medical evidence to suggest this is true. Nonetheless, it is hard to argue with the logic that kids (and adults) should wear socks when it is cold. |
| Put your child in a cold bath to reduce fever. | This will constrict blood vessels in the skin, which can increase the core temperature. A wet washcloth applied to the forehead is safer and will make the child feel more comfortable. |
| The flu shot or the flu mist will give your child the flu. | The injectable flu vaccine is inactivated (killed) virus so a child won’t get the flu after a shot. Flu mist is a weakened form of the virus that can only replicate in the nose and does not cause flu symptoms in most people. |
| It's too late in the season for a flu shot. | There is still time for children (and adults) to get vaccinated. It is the best protection from the flu. |
What are some of the strangest cold and flu myths you’ve ever heard? Let us know in the comment section below.
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