Airborne for kids before WDW?

[Technosavant]

Also in regards to the flu shot... unless you have a month or longer until your trip, I wouldn't have them get the shot. Too many possible side effects or from the shot. Plus two of the times I got the flu shot, I still got the flu

I'm a big believer in flu shots, but it's important to remember that it only covers certain strains. If the big strain of the year isn't in the shot, then the vaccine is less effective. This happened last year... they guessed wrong about what strains were actually circulating. Being vaccinated isn't without benefit, it does train your immune system a bit and can mean it isn't quite as rough if you do get a different strain.

 

[kidshop]

We use airborne (well,the walgreens version), and it does seem to help me if I seem to be getting something. I use it to stem an imminent infection rather than taking it everyday. I do give it to the kids, 1/2 a tablet when they start to get a cold.

For regular use I give vit. d3 and either a multi-vitamin or a 500mg vit c. to us all. Hand washing all the way though, clean hands are your best defense.

 

[hebbynan]

We all start taking vitamins the month before we go...mostly so we don't pick anything up AT HOME before we go!! I agree with several posters who said they make hand washing a MUST through out the trip. I do too! It's amazing how dirty your hands get a WDW...railings, lines, etc. If all else fails...I cross my fingers! LOL I'm actually worried more about picking something up from the plane ride than I am at Disney.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Airborne had to settle with the FTC for false claims for a total of 23.3 million dollars. I would argue that 23 million dollars says it is fake...

I was going to post about the lawsuit too but you did it so well. So wanna bet .3 mil that it does work?

 

[nkereina]

I'm a big believer in flu shots, but it's important to remember that it only covers certain strains. If the big strain of the year isn't in the shot, then the vaccine is less effective. This happened last year... they guessed wrong about what strains were actually circulating. Being vaccinated isn't without benefit, it does train your immune system a bit and can mean it isn't quite as rough if you do get a different strain.

Very true, but they are also not without risks. Some of which can be very serious. If i was on the fence about a flu shot before vacation, I'd opt not to do it just to avoid side effects and complications while on vacation.

 

[ccgirl]

Nothing will prevent you from getting sick other than a great immune system. Drugs/vitamins will help with the symptoms but will not prevent an illness. All of the cold/cough medicines are for the symptoms only and not the illness. It is to make living with the symptoms more bearable. Personally, I do not give my children anything to prevent illness and am very leary with antibiotics. Not a big fan. The biggest prevention is proper handwashing and keeping your hands off you face (eyes,nose).

 

[luvallprincesses]

This OP never expected this one to be so controversial! Thanks everyone for their input and experiences since I have no experience with any of the products I mentioned as means of an attempt at prevention. I do know the overpriced ColdEeze that I started taking at work (teacher) today because I didn't have a bottle of zinc supplements in my drawer will shorten the duration and severity of the cold my generous 8th graders have shared with me regardless of incessant use of that hand sanitizer in my classroom and also soothed my throat at the same time. I, too, am much more concerned about getting sick right before Disney and on the plane. Otherwise my kids know the "no handrails" rules...one of them even asked once why the builders built handrails anyway since mom says we aren't allowed to use them. But I may still buy some vitamin C tabs for before and during our upcoming magic trip!

 

[Kelblum]

We use airborne before all of our flights to Disney. I have no idea if it helps or not, but so far we haven't gotten sick (knock on wood).

We do the same, also not sure if it works or not, but we haven't gotten sick either!

 

[hebbynan]

I, too, am much more concerned about getting sick right before Disney and on the plane. Otherwise my kids know the "no handrails" rules...one of them even asked once why the builders built handrails anyway since mom says we aren't allowed to use them. But I may still buy some vitamin C tabs for before and during our upcoming magic trip!

I'm a cub scout den leader (who leaves for WDW in 25 days) and last night, God Love Him, one of my little wolves sat next to me and proceeded to cough and sneeze on me ALL NIGHT LONG! I can't imagine being a teacher!! ALL THOSE GERMS!!! ARGH!!! I LOVE what you said about the hand rails.......I tell my kids they're there to keep us 'older folks' (LOL) from falling NOT for kids to touch!!

Keep popping that Vitamin C and I'm wishing you a happy germ-free trip!!

 

[Geoff_M]

As always read the labels.

Speak of that, there's a reason why this is known as the "Quack Miranda Warning" on labels:

"These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease."

 

[MrRomance]

Does anyone give their kids Airborne or DanActive or herbals to boost their immune system (dd10,ds4) to try to keep them healthy before a WDW trip? If so, how far in advance? Has it NOT worked for anyone who has tried?

Does Airborne work? - In my view, it does. My wife and I were both school teachers and we were forever getting coughs, colds and bugs so we tried it and we didn't get sick. That said, taking a good multi vitamin would probably have been just as effective.

There seems to be an awful lot of concern about getting sick at WDW but I don't actually know why. In 2012, we will be going twice and I have been 10 times to date. None of us have ever got sick. I have only ever been sick once at WDW but I was already suffering minor symptoms before I left the house. The biggest risk factor for me is the flight because the recycled air means that only one person needs to have a cold and the whole plane can get it but I wouldn't bother buying Airborne.

 

[POB14]

Actually, the science on zinc is pretty good and a recent Cochrane review found zinc can shorten cold duration and severity. I'm sure Google would turn it up -- I think it was earlier this year.

Zinc in Airborne (the On-The-Go packet): 8 mg
Zinc in a Quarter Pounder with Cheese: over 16 mg

Personally, I'm taking the kids to McDonalds.

 

[Technosavant]

There seems to be an awful lot of concern about getting sick at WDW but I don't actually know why. In 2012, we will be going twice and I have been 10 times to date. None of us have ever got sick. I have only ever been sick once at WDW but I was already suffering minor symptoms before I left the house. The biggest risk factor for me is the flight

I agree with this.

WDW is really no different than the mall on a weekend- a bunch of people visiting the same place. You usually aren't crammed in at point blank range unless you closed down a park and are taking a bus, but that can happen on public transportation in any city during rush hour. I don't worry about getting sick from somebody when I go to the grocery store, I don't worry about it at WDW... it's only more noticeable to people because they are on vacation when they get the need to pray to the porcelain god. It reminds me of the Dilbert cartoon where the boss was complaining about 40% of sick days being on Mondays and Fridays; a perfectly normal distribution but more noticeable because of the time. I wonder if it's the same percentage of people falling ill at WDW as anywhere else in a given period of time, but because you're paying through the nose for a Disney vacation it's seen as a bigger deal.

The flight is a greater potential risk of disease transmission for the reasons you said.

 

[luvallprincesses]

Maybe some people are concerned about picking something up AT the world, but many (including my purpose of the original post) are concerned about getting an illness (especially a child who gets high fevers at the slightest virus or bacteria) right BEFORE the trip that will cause a good portion of the week to be less-than-wonderful; daresay even possibly make a parent question whether to take the trip!

Picking something up at WDW? Likely to not develop symptoms until the trip is almost, or even, completely, over...not nearly as big of a concern when the beginning of the trip was wonderful.

 

[mandypta]

I've never used this prior to a trip - but FWIW, I have given my kids raw garlic to avoid getting sick before. It works well.

Like if one kid gets strep throat, or a stomach bug, or just a nasty cold, I give the other one raw garlic. It seems to be pretty effective (not 100%, but darn close).

I mince it up really small, and give it to them in one big bite (on a spoon) and have them immediately chase it with a large glass of orange juice. Doesn't taste great, but my oldest has witnessed it working enough that he tolerates it. Caution, though - start with half a clove (and definitely no more than a whole small clove), as it can irritate the stomach.

 

[Robo]

I've never used this prior to a trip - but FWIW, I have given my kids raw garlic to avoid getting sick before. It works well.

I'll bet they're not bothered by vampires, either.

 

[KJMAX1]

OP, we fly in a month with six kids. We have been very sick twice in WDW. Once with a stomach flu that started the day after we arrived, and the other was H1N1 which was having an outbreak in Orlando the weeks we were there. My two sons had fevers of 105.

I personally believe and know that airplanes are the grossest things anyone can be in. My son threw up on a flight once, and it got all over a chair. We told two airline attendants that it happened, and we cleaned it as best we could between wipes etc. When we landed, we stayed on the plane for the 30min layover. We had to move to the row behind us for this flight, and guess what...not a SINGLE airline employee took care of the seat. The poor woman who was assigned that seat, sat in it without ever knowing my son barfed ALL over it...there was another time that we stayed on the plane for a 45 min layover, and the airline employees vacuumed, and then put all the used pillows, and blankets back onto the seats!!!

My kids now get a flu shot when we fly during flu season. There is no reason not to have one. We take lots of sanitizer, and I make sure my kids have been eating well before we leave so that their systems can fight things easier. We have talked about touching their faces etc, and how you can get sick. I realize that you can get sick anywhere but being stuck in the same air for hours on a plane, or touching thousands of things at WDW puts you at a higher risk of getting sick.

 

[nytimez]

I'll bet they're not bothered by vampires, either.

How is the vampire problem at WDW these days anyway?

 

[98cpTyphoonGuard]

I always take Airborne starting about a week before flying to Disney. Is it a miralce cure? No. It is a vitamin and herbal supplement, but since I don't take vitamins regularly and am not the healthiest of eaters it works for me. I also take a flu shot, which also is not a gurantee that you won't get sick. The best way to combat a nasty bug is to wash hands regulary. A nurse told me yesterday to use hand sanitizer, wash hands thoroughly, and use sanitizer again. Fortunately, being around little ones, who carry and spread germs, regulary has boosted my immune system - but I leave nothing to chance.....

 

[dzorn]

We do vitamins regularly, on top of making sure they eat healthy (lots of veggies and fruit every day, with milk and 100% juice as oppossed to any soda/kool-aid/etc). Plus, regular washing of hands, hand sanitizer spottting whenever I can remember (whenever we're waiting in line and before snacks) and just basic common sense. I doubt airborne really makes much of a difference, and most definitely doesn't take the place of a good healthy diet and common sense.

Kids and adults are going to get sick, there's no avoiding it. You can do some things to limit your chances, but you're never 100% safe unless you live in a bubble. Just be prepared if it does happen.

You do realize that juice is not really healthy don't you? It's sugar and an adult should not have more than 4oz a day.


But I do agree handwashing is the most important thing. Also teach kids not to touch there mouth or face.

We don't use hand sanitizer often. It kills the good germs as well as the bad.

Denise in MI