Surviving a Winter of Illnesses - Wisdom of Dr. Joseph
By Garrett Jenkins
As an engineer and father of eight, my approach to life is practical and solution-oriented. This winter, with sickness hitting our home harder than usual, I’ve had to refer back to the professional advice of Dr. Joseph Kingston posted in General Announcements GroupMe. He provided invaluable guidance for families facing a surge in respiratory illnesses. However, the advice has gotten lost in the GroupMe scroll. Now we have a repository for this information that can be found easily when we need it most.
Here is the information Dr. Joseph sent out Jan 6, 2024.
"As most of our families are aware, there are multiple respiratory illnesses going around right now. Most of them can be dangerous or even life threatening to infants under 6 months and particularly newborns. We’ve seen cases of whooping cough, influenza and RSV, all of which are more severe in babies under 6 months. There are a lot of things you can do to have a stronger immune system to be ready for these illnesses as you and your kids are exposed to them. For example, vitamin D3, cod liver oil, garlic green drink, and so many other things. You can even give you’re your infants and newborns vitamin D3. But one of the best things for your babies will be their momma’s milk with the antibodies protecting against the things she’s been exposed to.
“For moms with young babies, please do your best to keep them away from other sick children. For parents with sick children, please keep them home to avoid spreading the illness to others.”
For moms with young babies, please do your best to keep them away from other sick children. For parents with sick children, please keep them home to avoid spreading the illness to others. It’s sometimes hard to know when someone is no longer contagious with all the different things going around, some of them may even overlap, but please just be cautious. I will post some general guidelines on symptoms and stages of the above illnesses I mentioned so you can have a better idea of how long they are contagious.
Pertussis vs. Flu vs. RSV
Click the image to learn more about each.
Dr. Joseph Kingston advice continued.
“Most of the respiratory illnesses are viruses so you just need to treat with supportive care while their immune systems fight it off. However, whooping cough is bacterial and can be treated with an antibiotic if caught early enough (in the first 1-2 weeks). The earlier the treatment is started, the more effective it will be on how severe it gets or how long it lasts.
Whooping cough is generally diagnosed by history and by the sound of the cough and knowing if there was an exposure to it.”
Dr. Joseph Kingston advice continued.
“Please let me know if you need any help with any of your children or have specific questions. I do my best to make myself available to texts and phone calls outside of my clinic hours if someone has questions or looking for advice on how to help their children.
If anyone has children they feel like are really struggling, particularly if they are working hard to breathe, needing oxygen, newborn with fevers, or anything else that may be concerning to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me. During the week while I’m seeing patients it may be easier to get ahold of me through the messaging system at Health First or to schedule an appt to get checked if needed. 801-542-8080. Thank you and be safe!"
Dr. Joseph has armed us with a litany of immune-boosting strategies: the virtues of vitamin D3, the ancient wisdom of cod liver oil, and the almost mystical benefits of garlic green drink.
Perhaps the most heartening advice, especially for me since I have a newborn at home, was the emphasis on the unparalleled benefits of breastfeeding.
Dr. Joseph’s readiness to extend his support beyond the confines of clinic hours offered a lifeline in moments of uncertainty. His willingness to answer texts and calls, offering personalized advice, was more than just medical guidance; it was a gesture of genuine care and community.
As the winter winds down and we emerge, somewhat weary but undeniably wiser, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Joseph Kingston, Dr. Darren Jenkins, and the entire team at Health First Family Medicine. Their expertise, coupled with an always cheerful disposition, has been a cornerstone of our family's health.
From the advice Dr. Joseph so generously gave, here’s a list on how to keep your family safe and healthy this winter:
General Prevention
Supplement with vitamin D3 for infants, if recommended
Breastfeed to provide infants with antibodies
Keep children away from sick individuals
Practice good hygiene: frequent handwashing
When Illness Strikes
Recognize symptoms of common respiratory illnesses
Provide supportive care for viral infections (rest, hydration)
Seek early antibiotic treatment for whooping cough
Monitor for serious symptoms (difficulty breathing, fever in infants)
Contact healthcare provider for concerns or severe symptoms
