Fewer than half of Aussie parents know washing hands key to cold prevention, poll reveals

Most Australian parents are relying on old wives’ tales when it comes to protecting their kids from the common cold. But beating the virus just comes down to clean hands.

Most Australian parents are relying on old wives’ tales to protect their children from the common cold, or giving them unnecessary vitamins and antibiotics.

Yet reliable and simple strategies for warding off the winter lurgy exist, say leading paediatricians.

The latest Royal Children’s Hospital National Child Health Poll reveals fewer than half of parents know that hand washing — with plain soap and water — is a main way to prevent the spread of viruses.

And a quarter of parents incorrectly believing antibiotics can stop a cold turning into the flu.

The survey of 1990 parents found that more than 80 per cent followed myths to reduce their child’s chance of catching a cold, such as ensuring children stayed warm, didn’t go to bed with wet hair or go outside with bare feet.

Poll director and paediatrician Anthea Rhodes said with more than 200 cold-causing viruses circulating, which could be spread through cough or sneeze droplets or via contaminated surfaces, strict personal hygiene was crucial to reducing the spread of disease.

Sylvie Ottinger, 10, and brother Curtis, 7, are regularly told to wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs. Picture: Tim Carrafa

“Folklore is handed down through the generations, and while they’re often comforting strategies to try, there is no evidence any of them prevent a cold,” Dr Rhodes said.

“Being physically cold won’t give you a cold.

“People are also still confused about the role of antibiotics in treating colds. There is no role for antibiotics ­because they work on ­bacterial infections and colds are caused by viruses.”

Most parents surveyed try to keep their child away from sick people, including cancelling play dates, staying home from school or telling other adults not to hug or kiss their child.

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But about 60 per cent rely on over-the-counter products — such as vitamin C, multivitamins and probiotics — ­despite the lack of evidence about their effectiveness.

“Frequent hand washing will make the biggest difference in preventing a cold,” Dr Rhodes said. “You don’t need fancy antibacterial soap. It’s the mechanical action of rubbing the soap that will get the bugs off.”

Mother of two Caroline Ottinger said she had given up telling her children they would catch a cold if they ventured outside without shoes, but she remained strict about hand hygiene.

“I’m really conscious about trying to reduce that spread of germs and I do think that hand washing has made a big difference,” Ms Ottinger said.

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