Knowing Noses

How are your family doing this winter? Are your cuties happy little Vegemites*? Is everyone much healthier than normal, thanks to the mild weather?

Unfortunately, preschoolers get crook* with a cold (viral upper respiratory tract infection) around 8-10 times per year. Each of these colds lasts around 10-14 days and most are clustered in winter and spring. So if it feels like your kids have been snot machines the entire winter- they probably were! But how do you know a nose?

Stages of Snot (during a cold)
Days 1-2: thin clear mucous from nose as body attempts to wash away germs
Days 3-4: mucous changes from clear to white/yellow as our immune cells fight
Days 4 on: mucous develops a green tinge as normal nose bacteria re-populate 5 Yes! You do need to have a captain cook*. Tissue checks are advised. Yes! Green is (initially) good! BUT if green mucous lasts for more than 10-14 days or is associated with increasing fevers or increasing sinus pain- consult a doctor.

How You Can Help
- Make sure your child is getting plenty of fluids and is well hydrated.
- Teach nose blowing and good tissue hygiene (no bush hankies* please!)
- Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen as needed for fevers and aches/pains
- Consider a cool mist vaporizer or room humidifier
- Help clear the nose and sinus passages with saline nose drops or a saline irrigation system e.g. neti pot. As well as mucous clearing, saline reduces inflammation in the nasal/sinus passages.
- Avoid medicated nose drops/sprays in children under 6 (they have limited evidence regarding effectiveness and can be dangerous)
- Don’t rush to start antibiotics unless advised by a doctor (antibiotics can’t treat viruses. Taking antibiotics unnecessarily can lead to antibiotic resistance –> that means when you child really needs antibiotics they may not work)

Want to read more?
Sniffle or Sneeze? No Antibiotics Please (CDC ARTICLE) https://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/community/downloads/sniffle-sneeze-matte.pdf

*Australianisms 
Happy little vegemites: from the famous vegemite spread TV commercial, which focuses on children being healthy, thanks to vegemite consumption!
Crook: feeling sick or unwell
Captain Cook: to have a look. Captain Cook was a famous explorer.
Bush hankie: blowing your nose into the air or your hand (without using a tissue or handkerchief)