Are you curious about how many people have colds or the flu in your area? Have you called or thought about calling your children’s school or day care center to inquire about how many children have been ill with a cold or  flu? Do you watch and read the news to get a better idea about how much your area has been affected by illness?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Boiron has a tool for you!

With our Cold and Flu Tracker, you can track cold and flu levels in your area. Simply type in your zip code and the program assigns a rating to your area based on the level of illness present. Your local illness level will be rated normal, low, moderate, high or very high.

Symptoms and Cities

This program also identifies the symptoms in your area as well as the five cities with the highest illness levels.

For example, according to Boiron Cold and Flu Tracker at the time of writing this, Westfield, N.J.,  has a moderate cold and flu level, which means that 8% to 14% of the population is affected with respiratory illness. Top symptoms in the town are cough, nasal congestion and fever.

The current cold and flu level in Cincinnati, Ohio, meanwhile, is low, which means that 3% to 8% of the population is affected with respiratory illness. Symptoms in the city include cough, nasal congestion and fever.

It’s Easy!

Maybe you’re going on a trip or have family in another city. Whatever the reason, you can find out the level of respiratory illness in 135 of the largest U.S. cities. Type in the zip code and see the results. It’s that easy.

Spend less time worrying about cold and flu and better prepare yourself with the valuable information provided by Boiron’s Cold And Flu Tracker.

Feeling a Bit Off? Nip it in the Bud with Oscillo. The moment you feel achy or rundown, nip flu-like symptoms in the bud with Oscillococcinum.  Get a $2 off coupon off Oscillococcinum or Children’s Oscillococcinum by clicking here.  Simply download it, print it out and bring it to the store when you make your purchase.

Flu season is upon us, prompting people nationwide to take steps to try to stay as healthy as possible. Keep reading to find out what you can do to keep you and your family as healthy as possible.

An Uncertain Season

Flu seasons are unpredictable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s difficult to identify exactly when the season begins, the severity and how long the flu season will last. The flu season is broadly considered to run from November through April, with most cases occurring between December and March.

Steps to Stay Healthy

What can you do to fight germs and build a strong immune system during this season?

First, wash your hands often! The importance of hand-washing can’t be emphasized enough.
Flu viruses spread through droplets from infected people when they sneeze, blow their nose, or wipe away secretions from their nose or eyes. Encourage children to keep hands out of their mouths, avoid rubbing their eyes and wash their hands thoroughly several times a day, especially before meals.

Eat healthy with a diet rich in vitamins C and E. Foods containing these vitamins are believed to help support the immune system. Vitamin C can be found in foods like orange juice, citrus fruits, broccoli and green peppers. Foods rich in vitamin E include sunflower and corn oils, sunflower seeds, and nuts such as almonds.

Drink plenty of fluids. Increasing your water intake will help you stay healthy and reduce your chances of coming down with the flu.

The Importance of Sleep and Exercise

Get a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep may weaken the immune system. Get a full night’s sleep to keep your body’s natural defenses at optimum efficiency.

Exercise regularly. Research suggests that exercise can stimulate the immune system. It also helps you sleep better.

Visit Boiron’s Web site for more flu season tips.

What If You or Your Child Gets the Flu?

Keep Boiron’s Oscillococcinum and Children’s Oscillococcinum readily available.

Oscillococcinum, one of the world’s most popular natural flu medicines, can reduce the duration and severity of flu-like symptoms when it is taken at the onset of symptoms. Oscillococcinum is regulated as a drug by the FDA^1.

Plus, unlike other flu medicines, Oscillococcinum works without causing side effects and it does not interfere with other medications. This makes it a top choice for self-treatment. It is safe for both children (older than 2 years of age) and adults, and if you’re using the medicine for your child, he or she will love its sweet taste.

What Else Can You Do?

If you or a loved one gets the flu, keep in mind that drinking extra fluids prevents dehydration caused by fever, it loosens mucus and it keeps the throat moist.

Take It Easy

If you or your child comes down with the flu, take it easy or encourage your child to rest a lot. Using excessive energy steals valuable resources from your immune system. Even attempting to perform normal activities at work or school may be too much.

For more tips on what to do if you or your child comes down with the flu, visit Oscillococcinum’s Flu Treatment page.

Although the flu season is uncertain, we can take steps to keep ourselves and our family healthy with preventive measures and an eye on safe and reliable medicines like Boiron’s Oscillococcinum.

^{1.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sec 400.400 Conditions Under Which Homeopathic Drugs May be Marketed (CPG7132.15). Available at: www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdrg/cpg400-400.html.}

Could there be anything worse than one of your little one getting sick? Yes, two little ones being sick! Followed by you catch something. You know everything comes to a halt when you get sick.

Unfortunately, cough, colds and flu germs spread quickly around the home and school. As kids bring home unwelcomed extras from school and then proceed to contaminate everything from the family Wii to your iPhone, you need to play defense.

Look Out for Early Symptoms

Types of coughs include those associated with a tickling in the throat, dry coughs triggered by cold air, wet coughs caused by mucus and nighttime coughs.

Signs and symptoms of the common cold may include sneezing, coughing, a runny or stuffy nose, a sore or an itchy throat and possibly a fever.

For the 2009 school year, flu symptoms are already here. Because there are various strains circulating this year, it’s possible for flu and flu-like symptoms to persist into its typically timeframe, ending sometime in March or beyond, despite it’s early appearance. Watch for these symptoms:

• fever,
• headache,
• extreme tiredness,
• dry cough,
• sore throat,
• runny or stuffy nose, and
• muscle aches.
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, also can occur. These symptoms are more common in children than adults.

Prevent Germ Transmission

Children (and parents) should take the following measures to try to prevent illness:

• Wash your hands frequently, including
  * before eating,
  * after using the toilet, and
  * after playing in public places, such as playgrounds.
• Cough and sneeze into the corner of your elbow.
• Periodically disinfect toys and common surfaces.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes and mouth.

Be Prepared to Act at First Symptom

If your child does get sick, Boiron USA offers safe and reliable homeopathic medicines for children that can help alleviate the above symptoms.

Children’s Chestal simplifies choosing a cough medicine since its an economical all-in-one formula. Good for both day and night, It helps all types of coughs—wet or dry—that come on with a cold.

Children’s Coldcalm Pellets is designed to target specific symptoms of each stage of the cold—even early symptoms like a minor sore throat. It works on sneezing, runny nose, and nasal congestion.

Children’s Oscillococcinum helps reduce both the duration and severity of flu and flu-like symptoms.

All of these medicines are considered top choices for self-treatment because the active ingredients in homeopathic medicines have no reported side effects. Active ingredients are micro-doses of natural ingredients and contain none of the substances questioned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in children. And you’ll love that kids love the sweet taste of all three.

So as children get involved in school this season, keep this information in mind to curb the onset of severe symptoms.