Please provide some do's and don'ts for people who are sick with the flu or a cold.

Do: Do not work out when you are sick with a cold or flu, rest instead.

Don't: Don't use over-the-counter cold remedies for kids under 12 years old because of safety concerns.

Stay: Stay home from work/school. Nobody wants what you have to share.

Avoid: Avoid colds and flu by being diligent with hand washing, keeping hands out of mouth and eyes.

Avoid: Avoiding flu and cold is mostly attributed to good handwashing.

When: When exposed to other people that are sick - make sure to carefully wash your hands.

Colds: Colds and flu, stay home until you can't pass it on.

If: If you do get sick, get plenty of rest. Don't overexert yourself, keep warm, and eat well.

Going: Going outside in the frigid weather does not cause viral infections.

Carry: Carry hand sanitizer with you and use it frequently.

Health: Health haiku: sneeze into your arm, to avoid getting germs on hands, shake hands in good health.

SLEEP: Sleep well. Getting good rest strengthens your immunity "force field" against germs.

Stay: Stay out of crowds and wash your hands.

The: The healthier your lifestyle the stronger your immune system - practice good health everyday.

Wash: Wash your hands for as long as it takes you to sing happy birthday twice.

Chicken: Chicken soup! it reduces inflammation and eases stuffy noses and chests.

Cough?: Cough? Mix 2 teaspoons of honey with warm tea or lemon water if you're 2+ years old.

Drink: Drink lots of fluids [you know it's enough when your pee is light yellow].

Echinacea: Echinacea can make you feel better sooner if you take it early.

Honey: Honey is a great cough remedy for kids age 1-5 and Mucinex (guaifenesin) 12 hr dm for adults.

Up: Up to one quarter of sinus infections will resolve without antibiotics. Use nasal saline irrigation.

Using: Using a cool mist humidifier/vaporizer helps relieve stuffy noses/chests.

Using: Using saline, citrus seed or thyme extracts as a nasal wash can decrease viral levels in your nose.

Zinc: Zinc lozenges can make you feel better if you take them early. [don't use the spray!].

A new TipTap: Do wash your hands and use hand sanitizer. Do cough/sneeze in a tissue or napkin, or even a sleeve.

Avoid: Avoid antihistamines. Drink more water. Decongestants and mucolytic drugs help (mucinex). Humidify!

A: It's a myth that: a flu shot can give you the flu.

A: It's a myth that: a flu shot will help to keep you from catching a cold.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics will not fight the flu.

You: Myth: you need an antibiotic to "knock out" a bad cold.

If: It's a myth that: if you’re young and healthy, you don’t need to consider getting the vaccine.

You: It's a myth that: you can skip years between flu vaccinations.

If: Myth: if you haven’t gotten the seasonal flu vaccine by november, there’s no point getting a shot.

You: It's a myth that: you can get a cold from going outside in winter with wet hair without a hat on.

Colds: Colds give you a sore throat, a stuffy nose and sneezing. The flu gives you a high fever and cough.

Antibiotics: Antibiotics do not cure these conditions.

Flu: Flu has fever (> 100.5) and cough without sputum or nasal discharge.

Keep: Keep your interest in taking fluids: popsicles, slurpees, 7-up, lime-aid, ice chips. No dehydration!

Stay: Stay in bed with a t-shirt and undies on under only a sheet. Let the fever out so you're not hot!

Do: Do not attempt to participate in vigorous physical activity if you have a fever.

"Mono": "mono" can cause inflammation of the spleen, therefore putting it at a high risk of rupture if hit just right.

DO: Do - hydrate well with water for a cold - it will keep your upper respiratory tract mucosa moist.

DON'T: Don't - consider antibiotics as the treatment choice for a cold.

DO: Do - avoid smoking or second hand smoke if you have a cold - it will irritate your upper airways.

DO: Do - consider use of acetominophen if you or your child is uncomfortable due to a cold.

DON'T: Don't - overuse afrin for nasal congestion if you have a cold. It can caused rebound congestion.

Do: Do sneeze on your sleeves and don't forget to wash your hands. Do sleep 8 hours and eat healthy.

A: A cold presents with no fever or a low fever - with the flu you may experience a high fever.

DO: Do - stay home if you have the flu. Otherwise you will infect others.

DON'T: Don't - use Aspirin to treat your child if they have the flu.

DO: Do - hydrate well if you have the flu. Think chicken noodle soup.

DO: Do - consider use of acetominophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds for flu pain in adults.

DO: Do - remember that your doctor may consider use of antiviral medications in early flu phase.

Wash: Wash your hands and do not hug or share your towel.

Vitamin: Vitamin c does not help shorten or prevent colds!

Decongestents,: Decongestents, mucolytics (mucinex), and warm steam help. Drying agents (anti-histamines) do not!

Black: Black elderberry extract may reduce the duration and intensity of the flu.

Rest,: Rest, drink lots of fluids, relieve symptoms w otc meds, don't pass it to others, get better soon.

Dry: Dry nasal passages, irritated, burning? Apply Bacitracin with q-tip at bed time sparingly in nose.

Increased: Increased vitamins d and c, and perhaps zinc lozenges may help speed recovery.

You'll: You'll have colds, cough, fever & body aches with flu and you won't have the fever & aches with colds.

Call: Call in sick get enough rest & sleep, lots of liquids watch your favorite soap operas.

Wash: Wash your hands often, stay out of crowded places, especially if someone is coughing or sneezing.

Do!: Do! rest physically and emotionally. All infections are worsened or prolonged by increased activity!

Fluids: Fluids and rest, and don't forget grandmas chicken soup!

Wash: Wash your hands often. And stay away from touching your face!

Do: Do not over exert physically. This can prolong or intensify your illness.

Feed: Feed a cold, feed a fever! temperature increases metabolism and nutrition is needed for recovery.

True: Flu is inaccurately used to describe a multitude of other viral infections.

Influenza: Influenza much more severe illness with high fever and severe cough. Cold-scratchy throat, runny nose.

Cold-Coldeze,Cepacol,pseudephrine,RobitussinDM,tylenol (acetaminophen): Cold - coldeze, cepacol, pseudephrine, robitussindm, tylenol flu - tamiflu or relenza, (zanamivir) plus above.

Don't: Don't take leftover antibiotics for a cold.

Most: Most sinus infections do not need to be treated with antibiotics.

In: In the first 10-14 days of a sinus infection, antibiotics have little to no benefit.

Ear: Ear infections in kids do not always need to be treated with antibiotics.

If: If your cold keeps coming back, you have nasal allergies.

It's: It's a myth that antibiotics will treat or prevent a cold.

Want: Want to avoid getting sick with the flu? Talk to your doctor about the flu vaccine.

Got: Got a cold? Washing hands often and coughing into your elbow (not hand) can prevent spread.

Wash: Wash hands before leaving and coming home to avoid spreading infection between daycare kids and family.

Infection: Infection prevention is vital to your health. Wash your hands often to stay healthy!

Get: Get a flu shot every year to protect yourself against the most common variants of flu that year.

Regular: Regular exercise has been shown to boost your immune system-stay fit to avoid/minimize sick days.

Cleaning: Cleaning your home with disinfectants will help limit the spread of viruses, like the flu or colds.

By: By getting your flu vaccine, you are protecting yourself and your family members from influenza.

To: To prevent colds and the flu use purell throughout the day december through march.

Don't: Don't use a netti pot the first 5 days of a cold.

Best: Best prevention is to live healthy, wash your hands, and cover your mouth for cough & sneeze.

Wash: Wash your hands frequently, especially before eating.

Astragalus: Astragalus from chinese & ayurvedic medicine, strengthens immune system. Use during cold & flu time.

Take: Take astragalus in capsules, tincture or dried, put slice in soups 2x/ week (30 min) during winter.

Wash: Wash you hands frequently to avoid spreading germs.

Wash: Wash your hands, and take extra vitamin d, c, and medicinal mushrooms.

Viral: Viral infections shouldn't be treated with antibiotics.

Tamiflu (oseltamivir): Tamiflu (oseltamivir) pills shorten flu symptoms only if started within 72 hours of the first symptoms.

Got: Got the flu? Talk to your doctor if you'd benefit from tamiflu (oseltamivir).

Fever: Fever is a friend. It can help activate the immune system and make the body less hospitable to germs.

General: General body aches may mean you're coming down with the flu. Rest, drink water and keep warm.

Don't: Don't beg your doctor for an antibiotic, when you have a cold or flu! not needed!

Stay: Stay away from your doctors office during a flu outbreak. Unless you've had your shot!

Nasal: Nasal zinc does lessen severity and duration of a cold!

Do: Do not expect a prescription every time you see your doctor. The best doctors know when to say no.

Cold: Cold tip: hydrate well with water to loosen mucus and prevent dehydration.

Cold/Flu: Cold/flu tip: gargle with ½ tsp salt in 8 ounces of warm water to soothe sore throat.

Cold/: Cold/ flu tip: antibiotics are not indicated for the flu or the common cold.

Flu: Flu / cold tip: add honey & a small amount of lemon juice to chamomile tea. Sip!

Cold: Cold / flu tip: use saline nose drops or spray for nasal congestion.

Cold: Cold/flu tip: for its anti-inflammatory effect and ability to mobilize mucus, have homemade chicken noodle soup.

ColdTip:: Cold tip: infant nasal congestion- use a few drops of saline. Suction gently with a bulb syringe.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: don't use intranasal zinc. It can damage your sense of smell.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: honey is soothing for the throat but don't give infants (raw) honey.

Cold/Flu: Cold/flu tip: check if the otc cold med you just took contains Acetaminophen before taking tylenol (acetaminophen).

Cold: Cold / flu tip: humidifiers help to keep airways moist – but change the water daily.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: don’t want to get sick? Then wash your hands often.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: cover your mouth when you cough to avoid spreading germs.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: turn your bathroom into a sauna by closing the door & putting the shower on hot.

Flu/: Flu/cold tip: for significant sore throat w swollen tonsils / lymph nodes – seek medical evaluation.

Flu: Flu tip: when you have the flu your body needs rest to heal. This is not the time for chores.

Flu: Flu tip: people who are at risk for flu complications may be prescribed tamiflu or relenza (zanamivir).

Flu: Flu / cold tip: having a hard time sleeping due to congestion? Consider nasal strips.

Cold: Cold / flu tip: wash hands often to avoid viral infections.

Flu: Flu / cold tip: when in doubt get checked to insure that you don't have strep throat.

Sage: Sage tea and salt is great to gargle for a sore throat. 15% sage spray relieves throat pain too.

Daily: Daily nasal rinses with neti pot may help prevent colds and alleviate symptoms of the ongoing ones.

DO: Do wash your hands. Don't not finish your antibiotics if given them.

Wash: Wash hands. Wash hands. Wash hands. Wipe nose on your sleeve near elbow, not with your fingers.

Honey: Honey makes a great cough medicine for kids over 1 year of age.

Tickle: Tickle in your throat (a cold is coming)? Start using saline irrigations 2-4x a day to shorter it.

Get: Get vaccine. If sick, use separate towel than everyone else, wash hands, avoid touching eyes/nose.

If: If you're sick, limit touching of other people's work environments (phones, keyboards, mouses).

Fever: Fever is important to 'burn off the bugs.' use ice cubes, cool cloths and drinks for comfort.

IV: Iv vitamin c or IV hydrogen peroxide can help shorten the duration and lessen symptoms of the flu.

Plane: Plane seat pockets (sick passengers put dirty tissues), tray tables have MRSA 60%, avoid blankets.

Always: Always use your own pen at the doctor's office and not the pen 100's of infected patients touched.

In: In close proximity to someone who sneezes or coughs, it might help to briefly hold your breath.

Taking: Taking adequate vit d is proven to prevent influenza better than flu shots (which don't help much)!

Have: Have your vitamin d level checked as it has been proven to boost immunity and help, not vitamin c.

Stay: Stay home, drink fluids, rest, avoid alcohol, don't take antibiotics casually, don't touch family.

Still: Still not too late to get your flu shot, but not if you are sick.

Over: Over the counter sinus wash remedy, done daily in shower will drop your cold and cough dramatically.

Avoid: Avoid worsening cough with daily sinus wash in the shower, available over the counter at pharmacy.

Not vit C: No evidence for benefit from any vitamin, herb , or mineral. No benefit from bed rest. No benefit from forcing fluids. Certain products can be soothing or open breathing. Homeopathy is a complete waste of money. Prescription meds of very limited use. Get a Flu shot. Live a normal life and don't worry about it. These viruses are a part of life.

Ignore: Could help but viruses stay on the minuscules drops of water for quite a while.