December and January are usually times when runny noses, sore throats, and coughs are back in season. Often, parents have to deal with kids getting sick from school or social gatherings and other events that may spread germs. Dr. Kimberly Walker, a family medicine physician with OSF Healthcare says that there is plenty of ways to treat sickness with over-the-counter medicine.  

For children and adults, other products such as Vicks VapoRub can do the trick. 

One option that can do the trick, but doesn’t get talked about a lot is celery.

For Dr. Walker, hand washing is key. Teach kids to cough into their sleeve, and not into the air, to stop spreading the virus. She also encourages parents to keep children hydrated.

For babies and infants, medicine isn’t always an option.  There are ways to provide comfort though to newborns.

Decongestants can help.  But knowing what to choose, can be a tough decision.

Colds and viruses tend to last one to two weeks, but if you have symptoms that linger longer, reach out to your primary care physician.