Vitamin C to keep the germs away. Never go outside with wet hair. Stay inside.
Vitamin C to keep the germs away. Never go outside with wet hair. Stay inside.
Despite little or no evidence suggesting these types of methods actually help people avoid catching or preventing a cold, more than half of parents have tried them with their kids, according to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health (link is external) at the University of Michigan.
The good news: Almost all parents (99 percent) say their approach to cold prevention involves strong personal hygiene, which science shows prevents spreading colds. These strategies include encouraging children to wash hands frequently, teaching children not to put their hands near their mouth or nose and discouraging children from sharing utensils or drinks with others.
Still, 51 percent of parents gave their child an over-the-counter vitamin or supplement to prevent colds, even without evidence that they work. Seventy-one percent of parents also say they try to protect their child from catching a cold by following non-evidence-based “folklore” advice, such as preventing children from going outside with wet hair or encouraging them to spend more time indoors.
Read more at Michigan Medicine - University of Michigan
Image: Many parents still believe "folklore strategies" or use vitamins or supplements for cold prevention that are not scientifically supported. (Credit: C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health at the University of Michigan.)
