Originally posted here by Dr. Marianna Sockrider, Chief of Pulmonary Clinics at Texas Children’s Hospital.

This post was originally shared by Rettsyndrome.org.

Keep Your Lungs Healthy For Winter

With the winter comes the cold and flu season. Many people have respiratory infections during the winter months, in part because the cold weather and holiday season bring more people together inside. What can be a simple cold for many people, can be very hard on someone with lung or neuromuscular problems such as our children with Rett or MECP2 syndrome.

It is easy to pass on germs by shaking hands, kissing and most of the time germs are passed from the hands. A person who has an infection touches his or her nose or face and then has germs that get passed from the hands to another person or surface. Many germs live only a short time on surfaces, but it is a good idea to keep them clean.

Breathing Equipment Clean

Keep equipment used for breathing treatments or other care clean too. Most can be washed with soap and water, or ask your health care provider the best way to clean. You should keep hand sanitizer available and use it regularly. Be picky about visitors and insist on good hand washing. If someone is ill, even a home nurse, he or she should stay away, or if they have to be around your child, wear a mask and wash hands often. Avoid crowds if possible. A cough that a person does not cover can spread germs several feet! Use the ‘bicycle rule’ – stay at least 6 feet from someone who is coughing or sneezing. Children who have been very ill may stay in homebound school status during the high-risk months, but this has to be balanced with home care resources as well. Good nutrition also helps fight infection.

The Influenza Vaccine

The influenza vaccine (flu shot) is a good idea for everyone, but especially for those who help care for a person who is considered high risk. Even if there are already some cases of flu in the community, it is not too late to get your flu vaccine. A new shot is needed each year because the flu viruses can change and extra protection is needed. If you have concerns about getting the vaccine, talk to your health care provider. Many people who even have egg allergy can take the vaccine safely. There are few viruses we have this protection for and this is one virus that can make you very sick.

Lung Health: Aspiration Risks

Bacteria also causes infections, and at times can take advantage of a person who is already ill with a virus. Children with Rett or MECP2 who have seizures can have more seizures with fever or the stress of illness and may not protect their airways as well. Aspiration is a common cause of bacterial pneumonia. Those who do not swallow well are also at higher risk of aspiration; more so when sick with a cold or upper respiratory infection as they cannot handle the extra mucus.

You need to be careful about using cough suppressants. They often do not work very well and can cause side effects. Also, it is not always good to suppress a cough which indicates mucus needs to come up and out. Guaifenesin is a medicine you can buy over the counter (OTC) that may help you cough out mucus and may reduce the cough. It sometimes comes in combination with other medicines, so check the label. Always check for any drug interactions before giving your child OTC medications.

Breathing Treatments For Lung Health

Many children can have an impaired cough. They are not strong enough or coordinated to cough up mucus well. Some can be helped with a suction machine to help get out what is in the mouth and throat. But if they can’t get it up to be suctioned, there are other things to try. Nebulizer (breathing treatments) that have saline to thin mucus may help some. Chest clapping helps get mucus to the bigger airways.

Special equipment, including a percussive vest and cough assist device can be helpful. You can learn more about these and whether they can help your child from your health care provider or lung specialist. Some children really benefit from having a daily airway clearance program with treatments two to three times per day. Doing treatments as soon as a cough or infection starts helps keep ahead of mucus too.

It is not possible to avoid all colds, but you can take steps to reduce the risk and help illnesses from becoming more severe. While infections can come at any time, taking special care in the winter months is a good idea for everyone.