Handwashing,vitamin d supplementation can help a great a deal also.

If they really are recurrent colds, and not something like a chronic sinus infection, allergies, or other medical problems, your best bet are the basics--good handwashing, hand gel (hard to enforce with a 5-year old; good nutrition, some exercise, and plenty of sleep. Once again, if they are recurrent colds, you almost have to take a philosophical approach that they are part of life, and hope that they each run their course and that there aren't frequent complications.

First of all, I recommend taking your child to a doctor to make sure there isn't a serious medical problem going on.

After that, if this indeed is just a series of common colds each year, I might mention the following preventive measures that might be appropriate. Run them by your physician prior to doing anything, however, since these items are of general interest and not based on any specific knowledge of your child's condition:

1) Make sure your child has a proper amount of good sleep, exercise, and nutrition.

2) Consider adding Astragalus root to soups - this herb is commonly used in Chinese medicine during winter months to encourage healthy immune function, and when used as food like this is safe. It may be obtained from stores with bulk herbs such as Rainbow Grocery in San Francisco.

3) Encourage your child to wash hands after contact with other kids, and to avoid touching their face.

4) Realize that it's normal for most kids to get colds several times a year. Part of the territory.

I cannot emphasize enough that it's important to have your child checked out for this problem by a physician to make sure there's not an underlying immune deficiency or other serious medical problem (very unlikely, but very important to consider).

Happy holidays.

Poor thing. Has he been check for an underlying immune condition? If he's been medically checked and there is no underlying condition;

1-Do not feed him/her any processed foods.

2-Lots of home made soups while he is sick, you can add ginger if he has chills.

3-Pears, honey and cooked turnips are good if he is coughing.

4-Do NOT give him any immune boosting herbs like ginseng or astragalus while he is sick, they will feed the virus, immune boosting (chinese) herbs are only to be taken when the person is not sick to strengthen the immune system. There are other herbs for colds, but these are best taken under the care of a state licensed acupuncturist whose scope of practice includes herbs.

5-hand washing, sleep and nutrition.

6-if you can find a pediatric acupuncturist in the area, that will help the most. I treat children and they do better than adults, the needles are solid not hollow and do not feel like injections needles. It will help with symptoms and decrease the occurrence of colds, while having concurrent biomedical care.

Often time some children become more ill than others. Underlying conditions such as asthma or an immunodeficiency can certainly cause more frequent illnesses. Definitely recommend being seen to evaluate further if it's a major concern.

Colds are caused by viruses that are typically passed via respiratory droplet from person to person. Children in school are typically exposed to more viruses through the year. The best prevention is frequent hand-washing and limiting exposure to other sick individuals.

Frequent handwashing with soap and water can decrease the transmission of colds.

Also, vitamin D levels can decline in winter. Consider testing for 25 OH Vitamin D and supplementing with vitamin D3 if needed.

If this is IGe mediated allergy, your child will eventually grow out of it. A Pediatric allergist would be a good start.

Have your child's tonsils checked out. Many children also have an IGe mediated allergies. A pediatric allergist should be consulted. I could not agree more than the correct advice given by our colleagues R & D Mezo