Winter Wellness | Health & Wellness

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Pertussis can be fatal to your child – everyone should get vaccinated

Pertussis is a highly contagious illness of the respiratory mucous membrane. It’s marked by a series of short, violent coughs sometimes followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like whoop. A type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis causes this infectious disease. The bacteria attach to the cilia (tiny, hair-like extensions) that line the upper respiratory system. Bordetella pertussis toxins (poisons) damage the cilia and cause airways to swell.

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Fast Facts: Managing asthma in the winter

Have you ever noticed that it's more difficult to breathe in the wintertime? That's because cold air causes your airways to contract. For kids with asthma, that constriction can make breathing much more difficult — and makes asthma attacks more likely. Meanwhile, other health conditions like the flu and respiratory infections are more common during colder months, and those can make asthma symptoms worse.

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Cold vs Flu: How to tell the difference between your child's symptoms and how to treat them

Every year parents can expect their children to get several colds, especially during the fall and winter months, when the risk of flu is also higher. So how can you tell if your child is having symptoms of the flu or just a common cold?

Infographic

6 Ways to help your family stay healthy during Flu season [Infographic]

6 Ways to Help Your Family Stay Healthy During Flu Season. How can I keep my family healthy during flu season?

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5 flu season guidelines: When to bring your child to the ER

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), if your child has the flu, they are contagious as early as one day before symptoms develop — and up to five to seven days after.

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Your guide to preventing and treating Influenza (the Flu)

Influenza is a seasonal illness caused by a viral infection of the respiratory system. Learn about flu symptoms in children & read our guide to prevent the flu.

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Should your child take Tamiflu?

When children are sick, all you want is to help them feel better. With bacterial infections, you might give them antibiotics, but when it comes to viruses like the flu, you may not have many options.

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In case you MIST it: Nasal flu vaccine gets shelved

If you are like many parents, the nasal mist option made it much easier to ensure your child was vaccinated against the flu. You didn’t have to worry about your child’s fear of needles or the screams of terror and fall-down tantrums leading up to the injection. Plus, the post-vaccination ice cream or cookie treat became more of an option than a promise.

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Winter blues? Or something more serious

Each winter you might notice a dip in your child’s mood and a change in his or her behavior, and then witness them return to being themselves again once springtime hits. You might even experience these seasonal changes yourself.

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Egg allergies and the flu shot

When fall comes around each year, it’s time to think about everyone in your family getting a flu shot, for their protection and to do your part to boost community health. But, if your child has an egg allergy, you may be concerned about the egg protein in the flu shot.