Newswise — Mothers generally give their families good advice about preventing coughs, colds and flu. A national survey conducted by the Alliance for Consumer Education, a Washington, D.C.-based foundation, shows moms are often right on the mark when they recommend frequent hand washing. The surprise finding? With all of the news stories about colds and flu this winter, 53.8 percent of the respondents are not worried about their children getting sick. And, if their youngsters do become ill, 25 percent of moms will do nothing about it.
Dennis A. Clements, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer at Duke University Children's Hospital, Durham, N.C., is not surprised by the gaps in knowledge this survey points out. "Most people today do not totally understand how colds, flu and other contagious respiratory diseases are spread in the home and, based on these findings, may not realize the potential for transmitting illness among family members."
"We're all aware that cold and flu germs can be transmitted by breathing them in from the air after someone sneezes or coughs," Dr. Clements says. "Most folks don't realize that a cold virus can survive in normal household air for nearly 50 minutes under the right conditions. Researchers suggest that some of these viruses can also lurk on household surfaces for from 3 to 21 days, as well."
Flu viruses can remain active up the three hours in the air and may live even longer on household surfaces. "Some reports suggest these viruses can last from a few minutes to up to 45 days, depending on conditions, and on surfaces in the home," Dr. Clements notes. It's generally believed that both cold and flu viruses survive longer on non-porous surfaces, such as plastic, metal or wood, than they do on porous surfaces such as fabric or paper.
"What many folks overlook is that hands may be one of the primary sources of disease transmission. So, when your youngster sneezes, wipes his nose, and then opens the refrigerator or goes upstairs, the refrigerator door handle, the banister or anything else he may have touched will now have a virus just waiting to be picked up by the next family member."
Despite the longevity of these viruses in the home, just 37 percent of the mothers believe that, when one family member gets sick, the rest will follow. "This is an interesting finding because our experience suggests that toddlers, preschoolers and elementary-school- aged children are most often the source of disease being introduced into the home. Little Susie goes to preschool and returns carrying whatever cold or flu virus is circulating there. Soon, other family members, including parents, find themselves experiencing the cold or flu symptoms. In short, the cutest and cuddliest family members are often the culprits when it comes to being a disease carrier in their own homes. Yet, two-thirds of the Moms don't see it that way," Dr. Clements notes.
Taking a multivitamin was the choice of 36 percent of the mothers for preventing catching colds. Just 23 percent think that keeping their homes clean is important for family health. Twenty percent suggest staying away from crowds and 14 percent believe staying inside during cold weather was the surest way to ward off cold/flu germs.
If someone's not actively cleaning surfaces in the home during cold and flu season, the need for thorough hand washing increases dramatically, Dr. Clements says. More than half of moms agreed, saying they promote hand washing and proper hand washing (58 percent and 33 percent respectively) to help curb the spread of germs in the home. The time-honored "cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze/cough" was favored by just 35 percent.
"Proper hand washing helps you keep from infecting yourself as well as others." Dr. Clement says. " Have younger children sing the alphabet song so they stay at it longer. And explain, even to toddlers, why covering your mouth or nose is so important."
Clements praises the 85 percent who said cold germs could be transmitted this way and the 77 percent who saw flu germs as lurking on surfaces. "Banisters, doorknobs and other commonly touched surfaces are among the most critical target areas. And, don't forget that flu germs can live for days in fabrics in the home, like curtains, carpets, upholstery, towels and bed linens, especially if these are not in direct sunlight," he warns.
In this survey, 79 percent of mothers reported that they clean more often when a family member has a cold or the flu. "This is important," Clements says. "Make sure that all the things family members commonly touch are disinfected, including handles on faucets, toilets, doors, kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator. Other prime culprits are light switches, telephones, computer keyboards and the TV remote control. Even handling the same spoon to serve up the family's favorite casserole or digging a large bowl of popcorn can transmit these viruses from one hand to another."
Other tips for curtailing transmission of cold or flu viruses include disposing of used tissues immediately and laundering bathroom towels at least daily. Keep kitchen counters disinfected and change bedding often, especially if siblings are sharing a room while one is ill. "It may also help to add chlorine bleach to the water when laundering towels and sheets, especially if you are not using the hottest water possible," Dr. Clements suggests.
Does chicken soup help cure the cold or flu? "We don't know for sure, but it's comforting, at the very least, with the soothing warmth of the soup, the decongestant effect of the broth and steam from the bowl," Dr. Clements says. "While the soup won't cure the cold or the flu, at least it can make the family member who is sick feel better, even if it is only temporarily."
Just 12 percent of the Dr. Moms advocated the soup route, while 25 percent give over-the-counter or prescription medications or take the child to the doctor. "The moms who provided lots of fluids (about 20 percent) are on the right track," Clements says. The 25 percent of the mothers who did nothing once a cold or flu struck were "troubling," Clements notes. "If they don't do anything else, at least make sure the family member who has the cold or flu symptoms is getting plenty of fluids. This helps the body get rid of the illness more quickly."
Should children who have a cold or flu stay home from school? "Absolutely, and their parents should follow that advice, too, and stay home from work if they are ill." Dr. Clements says. "There's no reason to spread these viruses around. If you spare your classmates and co-workers, in the long run, everyone benefits. All of these precautions will take on extra importance if the so-called bird flu gets a foothold in the human population here in the U.S.," he cautions.
The mothers' study was conducted by International Communications Research, an independent market research organization based in Media, Pa. Interviews were conducted among a nationally representative sample of women ages18-49 with children under age 18 living in their homes. For more information on the survey, visit http://www.StopGerms.org.
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