Whats the best way to prevent getting the flu or other infectious diseases?
Dr. Kumar: “Have good hand, cough and sneezing hygiene. But don’t go overboard with the antimicrobial products. Some of those microbes are our friends. Wash your hands, and if you cough, cough into an object (such as your elbow) and not the next person. Most viruses are spread through that kind of contact. Just remember that the flu virus can be sitting on surfaces for up to eight hours.” Dr. Dumois: “At the hospital, we’re supposed to clean our hands before and after every patient contact. I could easily be cleaning my hands 40 to 50 times a day, and that’s not even overdoing it. “So I don’t get sick from work. I get sick from my own kids because I don’t do it at home.” Is there any surefire method to figure out whether a kid is faking it, a la Ferris Bueller? Dr. Dumois: “I’d have to say no. A Ferris Bueller-type kid could do a really good job of faking a fever. But most kids aren’t that clever. If they don’t look that sick, just get them out of bed and start them on their normal rou
