December 5, 2025, 5:25 p.m.
Colds, influenza, and viruses tend to spike during the winter months, and many people believe the cold weather causes the spread of these different ailments. However, says Jamie Kondis, MD, a WashU Medicine pediatric emergency medicine physician at St. Louis Children's Hospital, this isn't the case. In the winter, people tend to spend more time indoors and are in closer proximity with one another. Constantly being in close contact with people can spread germs more easily.
Limiting exposure to large groups is the best defense again colds and illnesses.
If your child has a cold or virus, Washington University Children’s After Hours locations provide convenient medical care for your child's illnesses and injuries as a kid-focused, faster alternative to the Emergency Department when your pediatrician’s office is closed. In most cases, children can be seen here or in a BJC Medical Group Convenient Care, rather than in the Emergency Department.
