WASHINGTON — ‘Tis the season for the sniffles. Seems like everybody is coming down with a cold — or worse.
Doctors in the D.C. area say they are seeing an uptick in upper respiratory problems, and no family, office or school seems to be immune.
“It sort of comes with the territory,” says Mary Jean Schumann, an assistant professor at the George Washington University School of Nursing. She says when the weather gets colder and people spend most of their time in heated indoor air, mucus membranes dry out and people become more susceptible.
Schumann says it goes without saying that anyone who has a fever should stay home. But adults and kids with typical cold symptoms, like sneezing, coughing and sore throats, should also call in sick.
The reasoning is simple. “If you have these symptoms, whatever it is that you have, you are spreading to others.”
Still, Schumann acknowledges that in a town with a lot of “type A” personalities, many people are still going to try to tough it out and go to work anyway.
Schumann’s advice for adults in the workplace is the same as for kids going to school: They should cough into an elbow and constantly wash their hands to prevent passing germs to others.
Coworkers worried about catching a virus should wipe down keyboards and other shared equipment — keeping in mind that the lifespan of a virus once it hits the surface is about eight hours.
And for those who do get sick, the best advice is to get rest and fluids — just make sure to avoid alcohol and caffeine, which are both dehydrating.
Over-the-counter medications can help with some symptoms. But Schumann says it is important to check labels carefully.
Some common cold medicines contain Tylenol. Take a dose of Tylenol or another fever-reducer on top of the cold med, and the result could be an overdose.
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