6 Common Germ Questions, Answered

We love it when kids are generous. But when they share toys, they're also sharing germs. Health experts say that can be a good thing. "The immune system develops when kids are exposed to germs," says John Iskander, MD, a pediatrician at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even so, you want to keep those sick days to a minimum. To help prepare you for the usual bout of colds, coughs, flu, and other illnesses that come when the seasons change and kids mix in the classroom or at daycare, here are answers to common germ questions.
By Norine Dworkin-McDaniel from American Baby

What's the Best Way to Keep My Child from Getting Sick?

"Good hand washing can block the transmission of most common diseases," says Charles Shubin, MD, medical director of the Children's Health Center at Mercy Family Care, in Baltimore. Indeed, a study conducted by the CDC in the poorest neighborhoods of Karachi, Pakistan, found that frequent hand washing cut the rates of pneumonia and diarrhea by half.

It's when they touch contaminated surfaces, such as a friend's hand or a toy, and then put their fingers in their mouth or nose or rub their eyes that kids typically pick up germs that cause respiratory infections and diarrhea. Although most health experts recommend scrubbing your hands with soap in warm water for at least 20 seconds -- the time it takes for two rounds of the "Happy Birthday" song -- research shows that even a 10-second wash removes about 90 percent of germs. This doesn't kill illness-causing bacteria and viruses, but it lifts them off skin and cuts infection risk. When there's no water around, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Also make sure your entire family is current with vaccinations, including an annual flu shot for children older than 6 months. "The idea is to have a cocoon of protection around them," Dr. Iskander says.

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