Chiropractic, Coughs and Colds
As seasons change some children appear to have an endless number of coughs, colds and runny noses. These are often explained as a normal part of growing up. But are these constant infections "normal"?

To understand why young children get recurrent colds (upper respiratory tract infection or URTI ), it is important to understand how we come in contact with the organisms that cause infection and how our bodies protect us.

What Causes a Cold?
The organisms that cause coughs, colds and runny noses are found in the air (they are airborne). These organisms enter our bodies through our noses and mouths. This is why it is important to teach children to cover their face and mouth when they cough or sneeze.

When a child who is infected coughs or sneezes millions of tiny organisms are propelled into the air. If breathed in by other people they also may become infected, and so it spreads. How many times have you had a cold and said "Oh the kids brought it home from kindergarten or school"?

So do we "catch a cold" or is the truth really something different? If we simply "catch a cold" from being around others who have one, why do some children have more colds than others?
Everyday we are all exposed to organisms in the air that can make us sick. Our body is designed in a way that may protect us from many potential illnesses, if it is functioning properly.

Body's Protection System
Our first line of protection against organisms that cause infections is in our nose and mouth. The nose has lots of very fine hair which "filters" the air we breathe and offers us protection against air borne organisms. In the mouth, we have tonsils which help filter air before it reaches our lungs.

Once an organism enters our body the immune system produces 'good' organism to fight off the infection. The immune system is where the problem may lie. If our immune system is not functioning at full capacity, our body cannot fight off the organisms and an infection has the opportunity to 'set in'.

Chiropractic Care for Immunity

Chiropractic care is directed at ensuring the nervous system is balanced and operating effectively, which in turn may have a significant effect on how well our immune system is working. If a child's immune system is fully functioning they have a better chance of fighting off colds and infections.

If your child suffers from constant coughs, colds and sore throats see your chiropractor. It may reduce the number of colds your child has. With less days off school and reduced costs in medication it may be well worth it.


Practical advice
If your child develops a cold, and they are not at high risk of complications, then do the following to help clear it up quickly.

• Get plenty of rest
• Drink lots of liquids
• Never give aspirin to children or teenagers who have cold symptoms
• Stay home and avoid contact with other people to protect them from catching the illness.

Most healthy people recover from a cold without complications. (Source: Dept of Health and Human Services, CDC www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/sick.htm). In my house it seems like a continuous struggle to get my children to remember to cover their mouths when they cough and wash their hands regularly. To my 3 year old, who looks at his hands and doesn't see any dirt, its a logical question to ask why he should wash them? (Explaining facts about getting sick doesn't seem to influence him either).

One of the best ways I've found to get little children interested in washing their hands is to make it fun. Try adding some bubbles and all of a sudden my 3 year old can't wait to get to the sink. Bright coloured hand towels with 'kid' designs also seem to help with the drying part.

The best method of all is to set a good example. Letting your children see you wash your hands with soap and dry them regularly helps reinforce the habit. Often it's the little habits, like hand washing, that make all the difference in protecting children from getting ill. Fact: Did you know a sneeze can send water droplets 1.8 meters through the air at speeds up to 160 kilometers per hour?

Pediatric Chiropractic
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Exam

Let's try a little 10 point quiz here and self-evaluation of your regional chest exam skills.

1. Do you take any vital signs for a child with an URTI ?
2. Do you examine a child's chest if they have an URTI or just proceed with adjustment?
3. For an URTI, which procedures would you use: observation, palpation, percussion or auscultation?
4. Can you recognise the salient signs of bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia
5. Do you recognise what is meant by tracheal and lobar airway sounds?
6. What is the purpose of measuring chest circumference and how is it utilised?
7. What do resonant and dull percussion sounds signify in the chest?
8. What is meant by diaphragmatic, chest and paradoxical breathing?
9. What is the significance of not hearing lung sounds in a lobe?
10. What is meant by tactile fremitus and how is it used?

Would you like to check the answers and see how well you fared? Simply insert your name and email and you will receive our concise answer list and show you how you can bring your chest exam skills up to speed.

Kiro Kids has been at the forefront of developing long distance education and multimedia tools for chiropractors. Our interactive CD, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Examination, covers the ground presented in the Master of Science program developed by Kiro Kids using interactive teaching technology which includes audio files of all the normal and common pathological sounds generated in the pediatric chest.

The 103 slide CD follows a logical format of history, observation, palpation, percussion and auscultation. A must have for chiropractors regularly seeing children in clinical practice!

I fervently believe in educating patients to see their chiropractor for wellness checks and in times of illness. I also believe every chiropractor has a duty of care to ensure clinical skills are up to the task.