Steering clear of air cabin cold viruses

December 16, 1999
Web posted at: 10:40 AM EST (1540 GMT)

	COMMON COLD:
description risk symptoms treatment prevention Choose a link above to learn more about common cold. Source: WebMD

In this story: Warding off germs Stifling your symptoms Caveats for the kids RELATEDS

By Carol Potera

(WebMD) -- With flight delays, narrow seats and less-than-gourmet meals, flying can be a hassle. Factor in the holiday crowds, and life aloft gets even more problematic. And it's cold season to boot. So how can you stay healthy when surrounded by sneezing, coughing passengers? And if you're the ailing one, how can you minimize your misery at 40,000 feet?

Warding off germs

Is it really possible to deflect all those germs from fellow passengers? It's worth a try, says Terri Rock, M.D., a physician in Santa Monica, California, who specializes in travel.

When a passenger arrives at her destination with a cold, it's hard to tell whether she actually caught it on the plane or had it before boarding, Rock says. But paying extra attention to hygiene en route can make a difference.

Go to the lavatory and wash your hands and face frequently, she advises: "Germs get stuck on your face, too." Avoid touching airline magazines, pillows, blankets or used drinking cups. Rock doesn't recommend wearing a face mask, however. When the inside of the mask becomes damp, the mask becomes a breeding ground for germs.

Once aloft, try to relax. Stress increases the risk of catching a cold, she says.

What about taking the much-touted echinacea, zinc and vitamin C to dodge disease? Though some swear by these remedies, studies on the effectiveness of echinacea and zinc are inconclusive. On the other hand, research suggests that taking 1,000 to 2,000 mg of vitamin C -- though it won't actually prevent a cold -- may ease cold symptoms and speed recovery. "If patients think these are useful, I don't discourage them from using them in the short term," Rock says.

Stifling your symptoms

If you are the ailing passenger, take stock of your symptoms before deciding on a treatment. Colds cause inflammation and swelling in the nose and ears. You may experience pain in your ears, because the swelling makes it harder to relieve the build-up of pressure caused by altitude changes. (Some people experience ear pain from changes in altitude even when they're healthy.) Shrinking swelling in the nose and ears will bring comfort and help keep a simple cold from turning into a serious sinus or ear infection. For relief, Rock recommends over-the-counter remedies: decongestant tablets containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed, or a decongestant nose spray such as Afrin. The medication should be taken about half an hour before departure time. Be aware that decongestants make some people jittery, however, and can elevate blood pressure.

Though it's most often used to treat allergy sufferers, a prescription nose spray with cortisone (such as Nasocort) might help. To get the most benefit, says Rock, start using the spray three or four days before flying. Unless you also have allergies, Rock doesn't recommend antihistamines to shrink swelling, because antihistamines can cause dryness and leave you feeling drowsy.

Caveats for the kids

A child two years or older can usually be given decongestants, and some physicians may prescribe cortisone nose sprays, too. But don't wait until just before the flight to try them for the first time. "With children, you never know if they'll have a problem," Rock says. They may become agitated or break out in a rash.

For younger children who are congested, squirt their noses with saline solution before takeoff, then rinse out the debris with a bulb syringe or have them blow it out. Rock advises parents to repeat this process every hour on longer flights, or 30 minutes before landing on shorter trips.

Tell children to swallow, chew or yawn during altitude changes to relieve ear pain. Keep food, drinks and gum handy for older children during takeoff and landing, and have bottles and pacifiers on hand for younger ones. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) may take the edge off pain. Surprisingly, most experts say there's little risk of eardrum damage for children flying with colds or earaches, but a quick pre-flight exam from a doctor can't hurt, Rock says.

RELATEDS AT :

The common cold
The common cold and your sinuses

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National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

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