Fabulous Fall & Flicking The Flu

The leaves are beginning to change color and fall like art in motion. Fall is a truly beautiful showcase of Mother Nature, and one that goes largely unnoticed in Australia, where it is usually hot or hotter.
So, let’s enjoy this spectacular season, by keeping our families and community well. Ok, that is a tall order. At the very least, let’s aim for minimizing the spread of germs; let’s stop flicking the flu (i.e. passing the flu on) to others. Hopefully, these tips will help-

STOP FLICKING THE FLU WITH THESE TIPS:
1/ Look for the early warning signs of a cold/flu. If any of these signs are present, keep your child home from school until they are well or have been cleared by your pediatrician as ‘safe for school.’
People with a cold/flu are actually contagious several days before any classic symptoms
(such as fever, cough, nasal discharge) appear. This period of high infectivity then continues for the first few days of classic symptoms too. Whilst it is hard (even for fair dinkum* MD’s) to diagnose a cold/flu before classic symptoms begin, there are usually early warning signs.
So, lose the she’ll be right mate* attitude, and keep your child home from school when you suspect a cold/flu is brewing. In doing so, you are not only looking after the well-being of your child (who is not going to be fit to learn anyway, due to low energy and poor concentration associated with the ensuing viral illness), but also protecting the school community from the spread of germs.
Early warning signs of a cold/flu may include-
- Sudden, excessive fatigue (e.g. day napping in a nap free child, falling asleep in car) - Extraordinary level of grumpiness/irritability
- Complaining of body aches and/or chills
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of energy during playtime - Reduced concentration on tasks
Classic cold/flu symptoms include-
- Elevated body temperature (fever i.e. 101 F or greater)
- Nasal discharge (whilst this symptom is also common in allergy sufferers, if unsure of the
cause, keep your child at home until they have been reviewed by your pediatrician) - Sneezing
- Coughing
- Body rash
- Red and sore throat - Vomiting or diarrhea

2/ Reduce the spread of germs by encouraging germ minimization strategies in your home
such as hand washing and mouth covering (with an elbow) during coughing/sneezing
Whilst we don't want our children to become germophobes or obsessive hand washers, it is important to make children aware of their role in community health.
For example, using an elbow to cover the mouth when coughing/sneezing, and regular hand washing. The importance of childhood immunizations and flu vaccinations in germ harm reduction can also be explained.

Your local library will have various books on the subject. Some great reads include- Germs, Germs, Germs by Bobbi Katz, Germs Make Me Sick by Melvin Berger, and The Berenstain Bears Come Clean for School by Jan & Mike Berenstain.

If you are interested in organizing a germ presentation at your school, local library or parent/child meeting, don't hesitate to give me a bell* and we can chinwag* about it.

That’s it for now! Stay tuned for more Down Under Doc soon.

*Australianisms:
• Chinwag: a chat/discussion
• Give me a bell: phone me (click on 'contact' at the top of this page to email me)
• Fair dinkum: in this context it means ‘genuine’, but can also mean ‘wow’
• She’ll be right mate: typical (sometimes inappropriate) laid back/ ‘everything will be
fine’/no stress attitude of many Australians