I've had it! Which is it, cold weather or germs?

[mommaU4]

I have had it drilled into my head from my mom and my MiL that kids will catch a cold from being cold, i.e. if they are not bundled up properly in chilly weather.

But I have had others say that the only wasy to catch a cold is from the germs of someone who is sick, i.e. someone sneezes into their hand then shakes yours, etc. (yuck BTW, we were taught to sneeze into the crease of our arm where our elbow is so that won't happen)

Anyways which is it?!?!

I'm asking because DD is sick and I'm wondering from where. She was around me and I was sick a few days ago, but she did forget to wear her sweater home the other day when it was very cold!

 

[lsyorke]

It's germs!! Prolonged exposure to the elements can over a long period of time weaken the immune system, but ..... it's germs!!

 

[mommaU4]

Thank-you! Of course this means I got my poor DD sick. But it's good to know. I wonder why so many still insist you get sick from being cold. Oh well.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

GERMS! I can't stand that whole, "you'll get sick if you get cold" piece of you-know-what. From what I've read, a person can lower their resistance by getting chilled, but that doesn't cause sickness. Maybe makes it a little harder to fight the virus if you have come into contact with it.

 

[princess momma]

There is absolutely no way you can catch a cold from being cold. A cold is a virus and has nothing to do with being cold. The best way to prevent the spread of a virus is lots of handwashing, which with kids is hard, I know. If you're exposed to extreme cold for a prolonged period of time, it's possible that could weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off the cold virus.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Thank-you! Of course this means I got my poor DD sick. But it's good to know. I wonder why so many still insist you get sick from being cold. Oh well.

B/c we didn't learn a whole lot about germs until relatively recent (within the past 100 years).

Colds have been around a lot longer and I imagine that they associated the symptoms with cold weather..as someone says...it can help make you more susceptible. Germs, though, is what spreads it.

 

[yeartolate]

Germs.

But when the weather is cold all the little virus laden mutants see fit to huddle together indoors in close proximity. So you get sick quicker.

 

[mick67]

Definately germs. But that's not to say that the immune system can't become weakened by prolonged exposure to cold weather.

Being outside with a wet head won't give you a cold. But, being outside long after you start shiverring can depleat your defenses and make you more susceptable to illness. I don't think you actually contract the illness until you come back in to the warm place though, because germs don't like cold...they live in warm, moist places.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Its germs. Cold weather making you sick is an old wives tale. One that I wish would die out. Working in the medical field you cant believe how many times I have to explain the truth and dispell the cold myth.

 

[canwegosoon]

another vote for germs...

 

[AnnetteF]

mommaU4: It sounds like your Mom and MIL have gotten together with my Mom who is driving me crazy. She says my DD 20 months is going to wind up in an oxygen tent because my house is so cold. Our thermostat in our house today was reading 75 degrees but she was freezing and claimed that tonight she could still not get warm from being here this afternoon . Obviously we are trying to be conservative with our oil due to the high prices but we still keep our thermostat at 68 and make sure DD is dressed warmly. I've told my Mom that the baby books say this is fine and cold temps do not cause colds but there is just no talking to her. I'm dreading the "I told you so's" if DD does catch a cold. We kept the thermostat pretty much the same way last year too and DD didn't catch a cold until July!

I hope your DD feels better very soon!

 

[Rella Bella]

She says my DD 20 months is going to wind up in an oxygen tent because my house is so cold. Our thermostat in our house today was reading 75 degrees but she was freezing and claimed that tonight she could still not get warm from being here this afternoon . Obviously we are trying to be conservative with our oil due to the high prices but we still keep our thermostat at 68 and make sure DD is dressed warmly. I've told my Mom that the baby books say this is fine and cold temps do not cause colds but there is just no talking to her.

I think older people are just always cold! My DMIL was always freezing in the winter (so I was nearly burning up)! And always thought the air conditioning was too cold in the summer (so I was still buring up). THEN I started having Hot Flashes!! Take it from my unfortunate experience... after about age 40 - 45 a womens thermostat just doesn't work right any more. Dont' worry about Mom... just dress your child the way you are dressed.

As for colds my friend the Dr. says... (he has to stay well to care for others)
-stay very well hydrated... lots of water
-wash your hands well... frequently
-be sure to get proper rest
-take your vitamins... especially vita C
-avoid being very close to, or in a confined space with, those who are sick

Good luck!

 

[JennaTX]

My DD has already learned more about germs in 1st grade than I know. I was amazed at what she came home and told me, they spent about two weeks (a little each day) learning about germs! Besides, we don't have cold here, it is 85!

 

[SueM in MN]

It's the germs.
You can share this with her (Fact sheet from the National Institutes of Health on colds.)

I can't find any links to it right now, but the University of Wisconsin - Madison did some famous studies close to 20 years ago where they looked at how colds were and were not spread.
In one experiment, they exposed volunteers to cold temperatures. I believe it was a cold room with little clothing, plus having their feet in cold water. When the volunteers were also exposed to cold germs, they got colds. When they weren't, they just got uncomfortable from being cold.

They also had some experiments with exposing people to cold germs and having some volunteers who were kept warm and some who were kept cold. Both groups still got colds if they were exposed to the cold germ.

My favorite experiments were looking at what activities promoted spreading colds. The situation that was most "efficient" at spreading colds was playing cards, which makes sense because you are close to the other players, so if they cough or sneeze, you are within the 3 foot area that cold germs/droplets can travel. The germs got on cards, both from being coughed on and from people touching them with hands that had cold germs on. As people played cards, they picked the cold germs up on their hands and then spread them to their own nose/mouth/eye mucous membranes by touch.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Germs, germs, germs!
I have this debate constantly with DH and his side of the family.
Just recently we were at a park where there were run-through fountains. My kids got wet in the fountains and it was ever-so-slightly chilly outside and DH was upset that I hadn't brought a change of clothes for the kids to wear home because he just KNEW they would catch cold from wearing wet clothes during the 10 minute drive home!

At least it's not as bad as the old "night air" myth. I remember when I was little, my Great Grandma always worried so much about leaving the windows open at night because of the "night air" (something about it making you sick).

I wonder what medical "truths" we believe in 2005 will be laughed at as old wives' tales 50 years from now!

 

[4greatboys]

Yep Germs!
My MIL was a huge PITA on our June 2004 trip to Disney about the same stuff. Once time the kids were playing in the fountain at DtD and got wet. In June so it was 90+ degrees outside. We walked around some then went to MK. The kids--inlcuding my nephew, were mostly dry by then but wanted to keep on the damp clothes because it felt better to them so I let them. Oh my
you cant imagine the things the said they were going to get from being damp. Same with our room. We like it colder, so whatever pheumonia or other major illness they didnt get while they were damp there were darn sure going to get in the cold