Going into our 4th cold and flu season I have come full circle. The winter our son was an infant, he didn't get sick much. (I was "a little overprotective.")

The second winter I doubled for 24 hours whenever he started with a cold, virus, etc. The one time he vomitted, we gave him the solu-cortef injection. He got through the cold and flu season very well, he was sick less than most kids.

The next winter, he was coming off a period of serious oversuppression and I was reluctant to stress dose. I usually waited a few days to see how he was doing. His colds lasted and dragged and never got better. I usually ended up doubling anyway, and often for 2-3 days.

This winter I am back to doubling for 24 hours at the onset of a cold. I know I run the risk of over medicating - and I hate it! But, I really think, in the long run, he is better off with a jolt at the start, then back to standard dose for the remainder of the cold.

Isn't the ambiguity of this condition maddening!