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journalism → sign → inbox
Is your household ready if you get hit with a stomach bug tomorrow?
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you → hit → bug
How to stock your medicine cabinet for cold and flu season
In the United States, cold and flu season occurs in the fall and winter, starting in October and stretching all the way through May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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season → stock → Control
The combination of dropping temperatures and drier climates makes us more susceptible to common respiratory viruses like the common cold, the flu, RSV or COVID-19, and "back-to-back illnesses," says pediatrician Mona Amin.
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Amin → drop → back
"Have things readily available so that you're not scrambling or depending on someone else to run to the drugstore for you when you become sick," says pharmacist Alisha Reed.
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Reed → have → you
That includes fever and pain relievers, hydration supplements and monitoring tools to help manage symptoms.
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Many viruses and fevers can be managed at home, says Amin.
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Amin → manage → home
And the common cold and the flu are viral infections, so they can't be treated by prescription antibiotics anyway.
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they → treat → antibiotics
Below, you'll find a list of items for the whole family, recommended by Amin and Reed.
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you → find → Amin
You'll also want to take preventative measures like disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, getting vaccinated and washing your hands.
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You → want → hands
But remember, says Reed, no prevention strategy is foolproof.
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strategy → remember → ?
What to include in your cold and flu prep kit
Over-the-counter medications
When you're dealing with cough, congestion, sore throat, fever, fatigue or other common cold and flu symptoms, you may be tempted to reach for a medication that hits multiple symptoms.
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that → include → symptoms
But those meds often include extra unnecessary ingredients that can sometimes put you at risk of accidentally overmedicating yourself, says Reed.
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Reed → include → yourself
Instead, opt for medications that target individual symptoms.
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that → opt → symptoms
These items all come with a price tag, of course.
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items → come → course
So if you don't have something like a flexible spending account to help cover costs, consider purchasing your personal sick day must-haves to start, then building from there as you're able.
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you → have → haves
Reed and Amin suggest these medications:
Pain relievers.
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Reed → suggest → relievers
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen can help relieve pain and discomfort from headaches, body aches and sore throats by reducing inflammation, says Reed.
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Reed → help → inflammation
- For kids: Don't use children's ibuprofen for children under 6 months old; naproxen is only approved for children 12 years and older.
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naproxen → use → children
Medications like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can safely reduce body temperature, though acetaminophen is usually the better choice for fevers.
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acetaminophen → reduce → fevers
- For pregnant people: Acetaminophen is the recommended OTC pain reliever for pregnant people, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
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Acetaminophen → recommend → Obstetricians
Yes, the same thing you take for spring allergies!
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you → take → allergies
Colds and allergies have similar symptoms like sneezing, runny noses and watery eyes, which is why they can both be treated by a histamine-blocking medication that can help dry up your sinuses.
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that → have → sinuses
Some OTC allergy medicines are approved for children as young as 6 months, but not all — and some have more side effects than others, says Amin.
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Amin → approve → others
Check in with your care provider first if you have questions.
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you → check → questions
Pseudoephedrine pills or nasal spray can relieve a stuffy nose or sinus pressure by restricting blood vessels and opening airways in your nasal passages.
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pills → relieve → passages
- For kids: Pills are not recommended for kids under 4 and medicated sprays are not recommended for kids under 6.
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sprays → recommend → 6
Dextromethorphan — often referred to as "DM" on the cough syrup box — can temporarily suppress the signal in the brain that triggers your cough reflex, says Reed.
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Reed → refer → reflex
Guaifenesin may help relieve chest congestion by thinning mucus in your airways, says Reed.
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Reed → help → airways
But before you buy, try just staying hydrated first.
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you → buy → ?
"Water is a natural expectorant," she says.
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she → say → ?
- For kids: Cough medicine is not recommended for children under 4; do not use for children under 2, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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medicine → recommend → Pediatrics
Read the label on the box or bottle of OTC products carefully to make sure that what you're taking isn't expired and will treat the ailment it's intended for.
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it → read → ailment
And always stick to the recommended dosage and usage to avoid unnecessary risks or side effects, says Reed.
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Reed → stick → risks
Honey
Honey is a great sick day remedy for all ages, but is especially helpful for small children not yet old enough for cough medicine, says Amin.
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Amin → say → medicine
"Honey is an anti-inflammatory that also helps with coating the throat, which can help with that cough trigger that children will have.
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children → help → that
"
Note: honey isn't safe for children under 12 months due to the risk of botulism.
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honey → note → botulism
This is a basic, must-have tool to check your temperature on those days you suspect you or your little one are running a fever, says Amin.
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Amin → check → fever
Rectal thermometers are preferred for children 3 and under; oral and digital infrared thermometers are both fine choices for anyone older than that.
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thermometers → prefer → that
The dryness of winter can dehydrate your nasal passages and make it easier for viruses to attach and replicate in your nose and throat.
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viruses → dehydrate → nose
…and 21 more, not listed.
The Aporia
