This winter, you would think our home should have been quarantined, with all of the illnesses we have had.  Myself, yeah well, we won’t go there but P2 came down with Influenza A and we had our first fun with Lice, plus the usually odd assortment of colds and viruses.  Growing up with a Mom who is a Registered Nurse and a Dad who was a fireman, plus the time I worked in the medical world, I have always been comfortable  dispensing medicine to my kids when they needed it.  I have also had little to no problem with convincing them to either take it ‘like a big kid’ or let them know I would hold them down as needed but they would take it.:)  Yeah, I know, my 7 yr old likes to tell me I am a Mean Mom frequently….bwahahahah!

When the FDA changed the rules on ages and what could be given to what age group in the last couple years, it kinda threw me for a loop and made it a little more difficult to decide when my kids should stay home from school and/or go to see the doctor.  And, since school-aged children get up to 10 colds a year, well, I know I am not alone.

Some 22 million school days are missed each year in the U.S. due to colds, as well as them being the leading cause of doctor visits and missed work for adults.  Thankfully the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) and Triaminic^®, one of the most trusted brands for children, have partnered to create “Sick Day Guidelines: Making the Right Call When Your Child Has a Cold.”  And since cold season is still not officially over, I thought you might want to take a peak.

One of the first things they point out is a few guidelines regarding keeping your child home from school.  They suggest keeping them home if:

• Has a fever of 100.4 degrees or higher
• Has been vomiting
• Has symptoms that prevent him or her from participating in school, such as:

~Excessive tiredness or lack of appetite
~Productive coughing, sneezing
~Headache, body aches, earache
~Sore throat^*

^*While a minor sore throat is usually not a problem, especially one that comes and goes, a severe sore throat could be strep throat even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache and stomach upset and you should contact your pediatrician as your child needs a special test to determine if it is strep throat.

Suppose you decide they are sick enough to stay home, what then?

• Make sure your child gets plenty of rest and put limits on TV watching
• Encourage fluids; such as water, soup, juice and ice
• Help your child relax by reading him or her a story and giving him plenty of TLC
• Consider using a cool humidifier
• When used as directed, children’s cough and cold medicines help relieve cough and cold symptoms while your child is getting better. Read and follow the directions carefully and give the exact recommended dose for the child’s age. Do not use over the counter cough and cold medications for children under the age of four in the U.S.

Keep your child home until his or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medication. Colds can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow the recovery process and can unnecessarily expose others to illness.

Of course,  these tips do not take the place of medical advice from a doctor. You should probably also check with your child’s school to see if they have any other pertinent guidelines.

As for us, we frequently have some Triaminic products in our medicine chest.  As my kids are getting older, the less they like to take liquid medicines.  And while I am not against forcing the issue, if we can avoid additional drama where medicines are concerned, well, so much the better.  Needless to say, I was quite interested in the Triaminic Thin Strips^®.

Not only is each convenient strip a pre-measured dose that dissolves on the tongue, giving you accurate dosing, every time, but they are totally transportable and great to carry along in your purse or diaper bag as needed.

We have tried the Cough & Runny Nose and the Cold & Cough Thin Strips with good success.  Day Time Triaminic Thin Strips^® Cold & Cough contains a cough suppressant and nasal decongestant. It temporarily relieves these symptoms:

• nasal and sinus congestion
• cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with a cold

Triaminic Thin Strips^® Cough & Runny Nose contains an antihistamine/cough suppressant. It temporarily relieves these symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Itchy nose or throat
• Runny nose
• Itchy, watery eyes due to hay fever
• Cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation occurring with a cold

In the LaBarge house, Triaminc is a winner!  For other great tips like these above, visit the Triaminic site, where you can even download a great  printable coupon.

Thanks so much Triaminic for sharing such great guidelines with us!