How to keep your family safe from colds, flu and COVID | THE MOM STOP

It was shortly before Christmas when I developed congestion, followed by a cough. And then came dread — I could not, would not be sick for Christmas.

I rarely get sick. Even the two times I had COVID, I was asymptomatic. But I found myself congested and coughing, mostly at night. I had to keep tissues nearby, while on a regular dose of cold medicine, though thank goodness I never had a fever.

More: My New Year's resolution? Less on my 'to-do' list and more grace | THE MOM STOP

I took a COVID test, not wanting to transmit anything to my family, especially over the holidays. It was thankfully negative. I took a flu test. It was also negative.

Instead, it seemed I had somehow just contracted a regular cold. Still, it knocked me out for a couple of days.

Others in my circle haven’t been so lucky, since we had family members and friends who did have COVID over Christmas. One friend actually had COVID and flu at the same time, contracted when her relatives who came in town to visit.

Unfortunately, circumstances like these are not that uncommon this time of year. The holidays have brought a rise in new COVID-19 and flu cases. According to a flu tracker from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama has “very high” flu levels through Dec. 23, not accounting for cases after Christmas. Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, New Mexico and New York City had the highest rates of flu activity by mid-December.

As of Dec. 27, visits to emergency rooms in Alabama by people with respiratory illnesses had jumped ― with the flu representing about 3% of all ER visits, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health. Confirmed COVID-19 cases represented about 1.68% of ER visits, with Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases accounting for about 1%.

Cold and flu season has arrived, it appears. But, there are things that can be done to try to reduce your chances of getting sick.

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated for respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, the flu and if you are pregnant or age 60 or older, it is also now recommended to be vaccinated against RSV.

But there are other things people can do. The ADPH recommends that people who are feeling sick should stay home, cover their mouth when they sneeze and cough, and wash hands with soap for at least 20 seconds.

People who do test positive for the flu can be prescribed antiviral drugs that will help reduce the symptoms, if they take the medication within the first few days of getting the flu. That is one reason why many doctors recommend that people who are older or at higher risk see a doctor early.

And if you want to reduce the chances that others get sick, wear a mask, even when staying at home, especially if your family is nearby. Even if you aren’t sick, you may also choose to wear a mask in public while flu and other respiratory illnesses are high.

For me, luckily, the cold passed quickly. But it was a reminder to take my youngest child in for her flu vaccine, which we hadn’t done yet. It wasn’t something she wanted to do, especially during the holidays. But it was much better than getting sick.

Lydia Seabol Avant writes The Mom Stop for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at momstopcolumn@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Sneezing season: Be prepared as cold and flu cases rise | THE MOM STOP