How to stop spreading a cold in your home?

[Princess Dot]

I am going nuts here. My DD had a cold(sore throat/stuffy nose) about a month and a half ago and despite all the handwashing of course I caught it. Well it just won't go away! I have gone from the sore throat to stuffy/sneezy nose to a hacking cough that has lasted for over 2 weeks.

So now my 3 year old is coughing and sneezing too! I am really upset since I have tried my best to try for her to not catch it from me. I am a close to being an obsessive hand washer, I have been using a seperate towel in the bathroom just for me, we don't share cups.

So I am on a mission to make sure that the rest of the family does not catch this nasty thing! What are your suggestions for stopping the spread of germs in your own house? I am going out today to buy some of those anti-viral tissues and some more anti bacterial wipes to wipe down the phones, computers, remotes and door handles. Any other ideas ( besides my Dh's suggestion that I move down to the garage until I'm better! LOL!)

 

[Wishing on a star]

Sorry to hear that you all are sick!

Sounds like something that is being spread directly thru the air, and the coughing... (not just the hands)

Have you all seen a doctor?

It also sounds like more than the standard cold. With the sore throat and coughing, I would want to see a Dr. asap.

 

[golfgal]

I agree that I would see a Dr. A cold doesn't usually last more then about 7 days. It is possible that you might have bronchitis, sinus infections or something else. It is very possible that your "cold" isn't the same bug your DD has, too. She may have caught that from playing at someone's house or from a doorknob at a store. It isn't a bad thing for kids to get sick, either. Every bug they catch as a kid makes them immune to that bug so they won't get as many colds when they are older. With all your hand washing and sanitizing you are also killing "good" germs, too. It IS possible to go overboard with washing. You do more harm then good being too clean.

 

[Rachie0507]

I agree with the other poster that it might be better to see the doctor first to determine what it is you might be spreading around.

I run a daycare from my house so we have plenty of germs all winter long. I find that good handwashing, using a low-strength bleach cleaner on surfaces and Lysol spray actually keep us pretty healthy here. So it sounds like you are off to a good start. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

 

[Princess Dot]

You are probably right that it is spreading in the air. Well it is supposed to be a little warmer these next two days, maybe I should open the windows and let some fresh air in.

But yes, I just made an appointment to see my doctor tomorrow. I really don't feel sick, but this coughing has to stop. I'm pretty good during the day, but at night I can't seem to stop and I know I am waking everyone up with all the hacking.

But I am still trying to figure out the best way to stop this thing from spreading. I'll go open some windows!

 

[Wishing on a star]

I agree with the frequent handwashing!!!

It is simply insane during the strep/flu/bronchitis season to not use good hygiene!!!!

 

[Princess Dot]

I realize that you can over-do the germ killing, but just washing your hands frequently is such an easy thing to do. I don't always use anti bacterial soaps either although with the liquid soaps I like to use it seems they are all anti bacterial.

With kids it is so hard since it seems they are always touching their mouths or their noses then touching everything else!

I forgot about Lysol! My mom was big on Lysol when I was little, but I only use it now in my garbage can! So do you spray the lysol on things or just in the air?

 

[#1MMFan]

Ummm, rhinoviruses (cold viruses) are airborne, being spread in droplet form. There are hundreds of them so you don't become immune to them all, and they can certainly last more than 7 days. Handwashing and towel hygiene (i.e. separating possible "fomites") sounds good, but if you live in proximity with someone infected it'll take a miracle for you not to catch it also!!! I suppose you just have to be glad it isn't worse. Incidentally cough, coryza (runny nose), sore throat, earache ... all these are potential consequences of "cold" viruses or upper respiratory infection. PS who all has medical degrees here?

 

[mom2boys]

wipe down the phones, computers, remotes and door handles.

don't foget the facuets, light switches, toilet handles, fridge door.... any place else everyone touches.

hope you whip it soon!

 

[palmtreegirl]

The same thing just happened to us!

First my DS came down with it- low fever, chills, headache, stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, clogged ears, a slight cough and teeth pain. I wiped everything down, sprayed Lysol everywhere, even washed all our sheets but it still spread to the rest of us.

I still have a lingering stuffy nose but everyone else is fine now.

Hope you all feel beter soon, it is a really nasty cold!

 

[grlpwrd]

besides using handwipes spray Lysol on common handles like doorknobs and toilet handles

regularly wash hands and use hand sanitizer if the ill one touches their ears or eyes, blows their nose, or touches their face in any way. I teach everyone in our family to be considerate and not spread their illness to others. I teach our kids not to touch their face, especially at school - our ears, nose, eyes, and mouth have mucous membranes and are ways to get ill is what I tell them.

perhaps quarantine the ill person to 1 bathroom (if you have more than 1 bathroom, of course) - we do this and it helps reduce transmission as if one of us gets ill it doesn't get spread to others

get well!

 

[palmtreegirl]

I forgot to add, get some Airbourne! It tastes nasty but it really worked.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I wanted to say change your toothbrushes!!!

When we get sick we keep changing them until we are well.

Also, did you know that since viruses are airborne they land on your toothbrush. Even grosser is the fecal factor, but we won't go into that.
Recently I have been reading about the airborne particles and leaving out your toothbrush. It is really gross.

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f02/web2/stan.html

First is the confirmation of the existence of the aerosol effect, even though it is largely unrecognized. "Droplets are going all over the place—it's like the Fourth of July," said Gerba. "One way to see this is to put a dye in the toilet, flush it, and then hold a piece of paper over it"

 

[Skylarr29]

Keep changing your tooth brushes!!!!!!!! Over and over until it is gone!!!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

Try Mucinex. It will get rid of the chest build up that comes with post nasal drip and infections. Airbourne is a great item and really works well.

I wash my hands often, but refuse to become a germaphobe. There are way too many of them to have to worry about all of them.

 

[swilphil]

I put my toothbrushes in the dishwasher (top rack in a seperate basket). I also take Airbourne at the first sign of a cold or if someone in the family is sick. My oldest son (age 5) even likes drinking it and has avoided a few colds this way.

 

[Disney Doll]

3 weeks is more than a cold. Go to a doctor.

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

I drive a school bus and i swear by Lysol ! I spray the entire inside of the bus with Lysol! I think it helps me because there is always someone getting on the bus sick, and I am hardly ever sick. I have been driving for 16 years and I have probably been exposed to everything.


My other thought is maybe your symptoms are simply from running the heat and the house being all closed up. I know in our house with the woodstove going and the heat coming on we get stuffed up just from that. The house is all closed up. I don't know, its just a thought that I have.