Turkey and stuffing aren't the only things that families will be sharing beginning Thursday. Viral illnesses may be passed throughout the holiday season nearly as much as Aunt Esther's sweet potatoes, making it vital for everyone to practice proper hygiene etiquette.
"It's so hard with the holidays," admitted Susy Marcum, nurse at Grove and Prairieland elementary schools in Normal. "You're seeing people whom you may not have seen in a long time," so it's difficult to avoid all the hand-shaking, hugging and kissing.
Well, it's time for some tough love. If you have a cold (the sniffles, cough or sore throat) but are well enough to go to the Thanksgiving or Christmas get-together, keep your distance from other people and limit physical contact, urgent care doctors said.
"Make family members aware that you're under the weather and ask them to excuse you for being less personable," advised Dr. Lamont Tyler, medical director of OSF St. Joseph PromptCare in Bloomington and Normal. "You're doing it out of respect for them.
"When we're sick, we tend not to inform those around us," Tyler said. "Be more proactive. Avoid hugging, kissing, shaking hands, holding the baby and preparing food. I think, in the long run, people appreciate it."
If you're sick, don't visit people in a nursing home, a hospital or anyone with a chronic disease because their immune systems are compromised and they can pick up your illness more easily, said Dr. Charles Dennis with Convenient Care at Carle Clinic, Bloomington.
If you have a slight cold and the visit is important, wear a mask to reduce the spread of germs from your mouth and nose and limit physical contact, Tyler said.
Limit the spread of germs by sneezing and coughing into your sleeve or a facial tissue and washing your hands frequently with warm, soapy water for at least 10 seconds. When water isn't available, use an alcohol-based hand gel or wipes, Marcus advised.
Wipe common surfaces -- computer keyboards, telephone receivers, doorknobs and handrails -- with sanitizing cloths, Dennis said.
Stay home if you have a sudden onset of illness, a fever, are exhausted, have muscle aches, are vomiting or have diarrhea, the doctors and Marcum said.
Reduce your risk of getting sick by eating well-balanced meals, drinking water to stay hydrated, getting enough sleep, exercising, and taking a multivitamin, Tyler said.
If you haven't gotten a flu shot yet, it's not too late, Tyler and Dennis said. Call your doctor to find out if he or she still has vaccine available.
The flu season hasn't started yet in McLean County but probably will hit before Christmas. Marcum is seeing the typical seasonal increase in students vomiting, with diarrhea or strep throat.
Dennis and Tyler began seeing a rise about two weeks ago in people with viral illnesses, such as upper respiratory infections.
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Holiday food safety
In addition to reducing the risk of spreading viral illnesses during the holidays, people also can reduce the odds of spreading food-borne illnesses at holiday get-togethers by using the following strategies from the McLean County Health Department:
-- Before and after handling food, wash your hands with warm, soapy water.
-- Wash utensils, cutting boards, countertops, sponges and dish cloths after each use. Never put anything on any surface that touched raw meat without cleaning the surface first.
-- Cook steak, roast and fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees; turkey, pork, ground beef and egg dishes to 165 degrees; and chicken breasts to 170 degrees.
-- After eating, refrigerate leftovers. Your refrigerator should be set to 40 degrees and your freezer to zero degrees.
-- Reheat leftovers to at least 165 degrees.
SOURCES: McLean County Health Department, USDA To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill.