Winter Illnesses

I know hand washing is the best way to prevent kids from getting sick this time of year, but when they are in school and traveling for the holidays, it seems inevitable they will get some sort of virus. So my question is:

When do you keep your kids home from school?

1. Runny nose

2. Cough

3. Fever

4. Infection

I would love to hear your thoughts on this! I always struggle with this!

-NewsAnchorMom Jen

Methodist Medical Center's new online healthcare program, MyMethodist eHealth, is a proud sponsor of this blog post. MyMethodist eHealth is the secure link to your doctor's office that lets you request appointments, order prescription refills, update your personal health record, and more. Sign up for MyMethodist eHealth here.

Pet Food Danger

From ABC News:

Could bacteria lurking in pet food make your children sick?
Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced salmonella bacteria in dog food sickened dozens of people in the Northeast, many of them children. The study found people became sick after handling the tainted dog food that came from a manufacturer in Pennsylvania.

Of the 70 cases documented, young children seemed to be the most at risk of getting salmonella. Twenty-four toddlers came down with the infection. Doctors are now recommending keeping all pet food out of the reach of young children. And to further reduce the risk of salmonella contamination, you should wash your hands with soapy water for at least 20 seconds after handling pet foods or pet treats.

You can find more on this story at health finder.gov.

-NewsAnchorMom Jen