Kids' health: True or false quiz

It's better to get chicken pox when you're a kid than when you're an adult.
True. "Absolutely," says Ponti. "It is well documented that when people get chicken pox during adulthood, it is a much more severe illness generally." Chicken pox, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, is characterized by a red base, followed by fluid-filled blisters that eventually scab. Children get a mild rash, itchiness, fever and flulike symptoms that last a week or two. But adults usually have many more blisters and a higher risk of contracting serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis. The good news is that the chicken pox vaccine is highly effective and is recommended by the Canadian Paediatric Society as part of every child's regular immunization program.

Don't swim after you eat because it will give you a cramp.
True. Well, sort of true. There's nothing particular about swimming that causes cramps after eating, but it's a good idea not to let your kids go into the water immediately after a big meal. When you eat, your body temporarily sends more blood to your gut to help digestion, which means there is slightly less blood available for muscular activity. If a child exercises vigorously after a heavy meal, she is more likely to get a cramp. Penelope Leach, author of Your Growing Child (Knopf, 1984), says there's no reason to keep your children out of the water for a full hour after a light lunch. Most doctors recommend kids wait a half-hour after eating before going into a lake or pool and that they always have adult supervision.

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Babies should sleep on their backs.
True. Each week in Canada an average of three babies die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or crib death. No one is sure what causes SIDS, but research over the last few years has shown that babies who sleep on their backs have the lowest risk for SIDS. A 1999 joint statement by The SIDS Foundation, the Canadian Institute of Child Health, the Canadian Paediatric Society and Health Canada recommended that babies be put to bed on their backs on a firm, flat surface. Make sure your child is not too hot, and avoid fluffy pillows, comforters or stuffed toys, which might block the airflow around your baby's face.

If you go outside in winter with wet hair, you'll catch a cold.
False. "Colds are viruses," says Roy. Viral infections are usually spread by direct contact or respiratory secretions transmitted person to person, rather than running around with wet hair. But the idea has a grain of truth to it: if children are improperly dressed for cold weather, they are using a lot of energy to keep warm. They may get worn down and become more susceptible to viruses, he explains. Add in the fact that, during winter, kids spend more time indoors in close contact with other kids and it's easy to see why we associate cold weather with colds.

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