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Washing your hands is the single most important action you can take to stop the spread of infection. Please remember to wash your hands before eating and after using the restroom. |
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Late Fall early Winter is the time of year for colds,
coughs, and upper respiratory infections. Hand-washing is the single most
important thing we can do to prevent the spread of infection. Colds and
flu are both caused by viruses that are spread by nasal discharges when a
person with a cold touches his or her nose, then touches someone or
something else; or when a person sneezes and the virus is sent into the
air. The flu virus is spread less through contact with objects and more
through air transmission. Common colds are minor infections of the nose and throat and resolved in 7-10 days; the flu is a respiratory infection and symptoms are more severe than the common cold. Symptoms of flu typically have a sudden onset and include: headache; cough and runny nose; chills; weakness; high fever; sore throat; nonproductive cough; nausea and vomiting; and body aches, which are severe. Cold/Flu Prevention includes: frequent hand-washing; using a tissue when blowing your nose; disinfect high touch surfaces like telephones and door knobs; don’t share drinking cups and utensils; and make sure your home is well ventilated. Anyone with cold symptoms persisting longer than 2 weeks or experiencing more severe symptoms should be seen immediately by a health care provider. Occasionally, children develop a secondary bacterial infection such as bacterial pneumonia, sinus infections, or an ear infection after getting a cold and need antibiotics. With colds alone, because they are caused by viruses, antibiotics are not effective. Anyone with flu symptoms more than 3-4 days should be seen by a health care provider because of the risk of pneumonia or dehydration. Every year in the United States, on average:
Some individuals are considered a high risk to suffer serious flu complications; such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, including pregnancy.
Remember, aspirin should not be used in children under age 18 because of
its association with a neurological condition called Reye’s Syndrome. Use
Acetaminophen products (such as Tylenol) or Ibuprofen to treat fever and
aches. Children Act Fast…So Do Poisons! Each year, more than two million poisoning exposures are called into poison centers across America – the vast majority of them affecting children. In 2004 alone, the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) handled more than 96,000 calls. Of those calls, 52 percent involved poisoning exposures in children under 6 years of age. ANYTIME is the perfect time to remind friends and family members that they can reach the IPC for free, confidential advice on poison prevention and treatment 24 hours a day via a toll-free phone number: 1-800-222-1222. Call the poison center at 1-800-222-1222 if you suspect someone has been poisoned or if you have any poison-related questions. For more information, visit the Illinois Poison Center web site at www.mchc.org/ipc DANGERS RIGHT UNDER YOUR NOSE
The following information was provided to us by FHN Jane
Addams Family Counseling Center—InTouch The number of children using inhalants has nearly doubled in the last 10 years. Youth are using regular household, office, and classroom products to get high, and many are suffering damaging effects to the teeth and gums, heart, kidney, liver and brain. Some are even dying from this dangerously popular trend. The staff at the InTouch Program at FHN Jane Addams Family Counseling Center, want to change this trend. Education is one step in preventing inhalant abuse and/or substance use. Parents are their children’s first teachers and have an enormous amount of influence on the adults their children will become. What are inhalants? Inhalants are chemicals, whose vapors can be inhaled to produce a mind-altering effect. Inhalants can be categorized as: Volatile solvents, such as paint thinners, degreasers, and glues; Aerosols, such as hair sprays and vegetable oil sprays for cooking; Gases, including either nitrous oxide, and propane, and Nitrites, including cyclohexyl nitrite, amyl nitrite, and butyl nitrite. Who is at Risk? Inhalants are an equal opportunity method of substance abuse. Statistics show that young white males have the highest usage rates. Rural communities are more at risk due to lack of recreational activities for youth. Approximately one of forty Illinois teens used inhalants the past month in 2000. In 2002, 4.1% of Illinois 8th graders and 2.1% of 10th graders abused inhalants in the past month. What can inhalants do to the body? Nearly all abused products produce effects similar to anesthetics, which slow down the body’s function. The effects of inhalant abuse are unpredictable. The user can experience slight stimulation, feeling of less inhibition or loss of consciousness. The user can suffer from Sudden Sniffing Death. This means the user can die the 1st, 10th, or 100th time he/she uses an inhalant. Signs of inhalant abuse. Early identification and intervention are the best ways to stop inhalant abuse before it causes serious health consequences. Parents, educators, family physicians, and other health care practitioners should be alert to the following signs of inhalant abuse: Chemical odors on breath or clothing; sores or rashes around the mouth or nose; sore gums; discoloring or worn teeth enamel; paint or other stains on hands, face, or clothes; slurred speech; drunk or disoriented appearance; red eyes, runny nose; nausea or loss of appetite; inattentiveness, lack of coordination, irritability, and depression. What can you do? Be aware of the warning signs of inhalant abuse. Report your findings to a health professional and encourage treatment. Continue to support healthy lifestyle choices. Educate others on the dangers of inhalants. For more information contact Jane Addams Family Counseling Center at 815/599-7300 or email: intouch@fhn.org.
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