Best ways to help DD shake off a cold before GCSEs

[Volpini]

Morning!
I barely post but thinking the MN hive mind can help.
DD has her first written GCSE exam tomorrow and today she has woken with a cold. Grrr. I’ve sent her off to school having taken an ibuprufen and an instruction to eat all the fruit/ green veg she can lay hands on at break and lunchtime.
What are your failsafe ways for seeing off a cold?
thank you!

Vicks first defence spray, asap.

VIcks first defense, lots of liquids and rest.

Thank you. I was wondering about this so Im glad to hear it works. I am just about to get some. She isn’t here, (at school now) but will be able to administer once she’s back.

Zinc! I used to work in elite sport and it’s the only thing we’d give to our athletes if the came down with something ahead of a competition.

A pharmacist I know calls Lemsip & similar ‘dirty medicine’ - she says it makes colds last longer. I didn’t know about zinc, thanks for that @PauliesWalnuts.

In the same boat with DD except it’s her AS levels! And she’s too poorly to go to school this week. Flu symptoms and D&V. Exams start next week 😫

Thank you. I also had this in the back of my mind. I’m on it! Thank you!

Just rest and fluids. Fruit and veg does not shorten a cold unfortunately.

Really sorry to hear this - hope this post helps and she’s on the mend really soon. Good luck for next week x

I feel vindicated for every time my mother has tried to make me have Lemsip… never have it, never buy it: but only because I think it’s disgusting! Thank you for this post

She needs to get that first Defence spray in ASAP for it to work. I would get it dropped off at the School with instructions for her to use it three or four times before the end of the school day. Once the cold really taken hold, you can’t really stop it

To add, though it sometimes causes sneezing directly after using it. And if your throat is so sore, it will sting a bit. Being ready for this might be helpful For her to know.

Thanks for this. Yes I might have missed the boat with the First Defence because she’s at school 10 miles away and I can’t get it to her.

When I get a cold I chop up oranges, lemon and ginger and add to a pan of water and keep it warm throughout the day (not letting it simmer or boil though) then have a mug of it regularly and add honey. Always makes me feel better, probably no actual help but it’s nice and keeps fluids up.

Just updating to say we seem to have caught it… child got up still feeling rough but by end of school today she feels like she never had a cold!
boom - thank you all