‘I’m a dad and GP, this is what I would never do to treat a child with a cold or flu’

When your child is sick, you'll try anything to make them get better. But Dr Sam Hay says not everything will work. 

I might be a doctor, but first and foremost I’m a dad. And like every parent, a sick and miserable kid always pulls at my heartstrings. Well, at least until I work out they're not that sick and I have to negotiate with the better half who has to take the day off work to look after them!

When my kids get sick, there’s no doubt the lines get blurred. On one hand, I have to be a good parent, but on the other hand, I am a doctor that looks after these issues all day every day. 

If my kids are really sick, then we are off to see our own family doctor- because I never want to make a mistake with my own family. 

But I always follow my own good advice, and here are the three things that I would never do when treating my kid’s cold or flu.

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Dr Sam Hay with his three children. Image: Instagram

Don't #1: Use over the counter cough mixtures

All viral upper respiratory tract infections have a cough as a major symptom. The cough is triggered by the infection of the airway lining, and all the mucous building up. Coughs are annoying and niggly, especially at night where they tend to keep everyone in the household awake - not just the sick kids.

Anything that can reduce a cough is a miracle, and there are plenty of products found on the shelves of pharmacies and supermarkets that promise the world. Cough mixtures contain a variety of medications, each with different action, which may help soothe the cough or help settle other symptoms that come along with a cold.

Do they work? No. There’s barely any evidence that suggests these over the counter products work at all to fight off infection or soothe symptoms of coughs and colds. In fact, they’ve been linked to some serious side effects such as sedation, vomiting, hallucinations, and insomnia. You can read more about my opinion on them here. 

What can you do? When my kids get sick I pull the extra pillow out to prop their head up for sleeping. They get a hot steamy shower before bedtime, and we use saline drops for the nose to loosen up all that snot.

RELATED: Aussie woman’s genius $2 shower hack for colds

Don't #2: Throw vitamins herbs and spices at a cold

I’m sorry grandma, but there’s no place for your garlic, echinacea, and vitamins in my house!

• Vitamin E and Garlic. These two have to be the biggest mythical cold remedies of all time! After numerous studies, there’s just no evidence that these help at all during a cold.]
• Vitamin C. This is an interesting one. A daily dose of Vitamin C does reduce your risk of getting a cold by about 10%, but…. you have to be taking it weeks beforehand. There’s no point giving it to the family the day they get their runny nose.
• Probiotics and Echinacea. Again, there’s evidence they may help prevent you getting a cold, but it’s borderline, and like Vitamin C you have to start early.

A healthy immune system relies on a healthy diet. A diet rich in fresh whole foods delivers all the vitamins and minerals the body needs. So when your kids are sick, focus on plenty of water, and maximise good wholesome foods, not junky ‘sometimes’ foods.

If your child feels comfortable with your doctor, that's half of the drama sorted. Image: iStock

RELATED: Dr Sam Hay explains how to tell if you actually ‘need’ antibiotics

Don't #3: Demand a script for antibiotics

The cold or flu is caused by a virus. They attack the respiratory lining of your nose, throat, ears, sinuses, and large airways of the chest - that's why you get a whole combination of symptoms from each of those areas.

Antibiotics are for bacteria, and are completely useless against viruses.

Most colds last three to five days, so if your kids are continuing to be unwell, especially getting worse; have increasing fevers; and have pain or signs pointing to one site - an ear or tonsil - then we may suspect a bacterial infection. In these cases see your doctor who will do a full assessment and decide if antibiotics are really necessary.

But if you’re only one or two days in, please don’t demand that script, because it’s just not necessary.

On a final note, any sick child of mine needs to stay 100m away from me. At least!

I’m only half joking. Viruses spread like wildfire through families, especially if they live on top of each other. So keep the sick little germ spreader away from the teenager sitting the HSC, mum who’s about to travel for her critical work convention, grandpa in the nursing home, or pregnant aunty who’s about to pop - anybody who really needs to stay well for that special something coming up. And away from school for a couple of days (at least).

The great COVID-19 crisis told us that social distancing, isolation, hand washing, and covering the face from coughs and splutters works to control the spread of viruses. So make sure you do it in your own house, every time.

If you're worried about your child's health, please speak to your local GP for advice. 

Originally published as ‘I’m a dad and GP, this is what I would never do to treat a child with a cold or flu’