The 7 Myths About Children's Colds

With winter finally digging in for the next few months, you may be hearing all sorts of advice from family members and strangers about how to treat a cold or flu, especially if you're a parent of a child with a runny nose.

To that end, here is a list of seven health myths when it comes to treating colds of children parents should ignore. Among them:

• Feed a cold, starve a fever. Whether you have a cold or a fever, everyone needs nutrients and liquids to get better. 

• Colds and flu are most contagious before symptoms appear. Actually, they spread most easily when the symptoms are at their worst. 

• Colds cause ear infections. All colds are caused by viruses, while ninety percent of ear infections are caused by bacteria. However, colds do create mucus and fluid buildup in the ear tubes, which can create an environment in which bacteria will grow.