Diverse News 2007®

Countering Colds With Common Sense

     With Flurry of News About Dangers of Medicating Children, Fleming
             Pharmaceuticals Offers Cold Prevention Strategies

    ST. LOUIS, Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- With over-the-counter cold and flu
medications currently under scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration for use with young children, Fleming Pharmaceuticals, maker
of OCEAN(R) Nasal Spray, is encouraging parents to help prevent their
children from catching colds in the first place.
    "The common cold is practically impossible to cure because more than
200 viruses can cause it," states Kenneth Haller, MD, associate professor
of pediatrics at Saint Louis University School of Medicine in Missouri.
"Since it's equally impossible to avoid exposure to all those viruses, the
best course of action is to limit your risk for becoming infected."
    Haller offers these common sense tips that many people tend to ignore:

    -- Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
       Good nutrition is the foundation for a strong immune system.
    -- Drink lots of water, which helps to keep your body hydrated. Water also
       helps distribute nutrients throughout your body and flushes away
       toxins.
    -- In the winter months, dry air can cause nasal membranes to become
       thinner and less effective at fighting off viruses. Use a saline nasal
       spray like OCEAN(R) Nasal Spray to keep membranes in the nose moist
       during cold, dry weather.




    -- A cool mist humidifier in the bedroom during colder weather can also
       help keep nasal membranes well-hydrated.
    -- Plenty of good sleep is vital, as is regular exercise, both of which
       help strengthen your immune system.
    -- Be aware of your hands. Keep them away from eyes, nose and mouth -- the
       most common portals for germs to enter into your body. Also, wash your
       hands throughout the day -- before eating, after sneezing or coughing;
       after using the bathroom and touching high-use facilities such as
       cafeteria tables, doorknobs and playground equipment. Pack hand
       sanitizers in your children's backpacks so they can use them at school.
    -- Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cough to avoid spreading
       viruses through the air. Ideally, use a tissue. If a tissue isn't
       available, sneeze into the elbow of your sleeve, not your hand, or turn
       your head away from people near you.
    -- Stay home. The average child catches five to eight colds every year,
       largely because cold germs spread so easily through schools and day
       cares. Consider keeping a sick child home from school during the most
       contagious stage of the disease to avoid infecting others.
    "If, or should I say 'when,' your child does catch a cold, one of the
simplest, safest treatments to use is a saline nasal spray like OCEAN(R),"
Dr. Haller recommends.
    "The OCEAN(R) line of products is a safe, non-medicated way to
moisturize dry nasal passages. Ocean(R) Nasal Spray, Ocean(R) for Kids, and
Ocean(R) Gel can be used as often as needed," adds Phill Dritsas, president
of Fleming Pharamceuticals. "They are specially formulated and can be used
for newborns and children. Unlike prescription and over-the-counter cold
medicines, there are no known side effects when used as directed."
    The ingredients in OCEAN(R) products provide young cold sufferers with
instant soothing relief to irritated nasal passages. The OCEAN(R)
non-medicated line of products is available at most drugstores, including
Brooks/Eckerd Drugs, CVS, Longs Drugs, Pathmark, Rite-Aid, Safeway and
Walgreens.

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