Be a safe sneezer; don't spread germs

We wash our hands to keep the germs away, but sneezing is nature's way of cleansing the system of foreign contaminants. A sneeze, or sternutation, occurs when something -- dust, pet dander or other allergens -- enters and irritates the inner lining of the nasal passages.

Basically the little hairs in the back of your nose are triggered, they send a signal to the brain and you sneeze as a reflex, said Dr. Ed LaValle, an infectious diseases specialist who works with the Cape Girardeau County Public Health Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital and Saint Francis Medical Center.

A person can sneeze for a number of reasons that range from harmless -- like sun sneezes -- to hurtful, like a sneeze connected to an infection like a cold or the flu.

When a sneeze comes amid fever, body aches, coughing, nausea and vomiting, it might mean it's part of the flu, said Charlotte Craig, director of the Cape Girardeau Public Health Center. The CDC recommends a person see a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days, are not relieved by over-the-counter medicines or are accompanied by a temperature higher than 100.4 degrees, because then it can mean it's more than just a cold.

The CDS also recommends parents seek immediate help if their child displays warning signs like fast or troubled breathing, bluish skin color, lack of thirst, failure to wake up easily or interact, improvement of symptoms, then a return to fever and worse cough or fever with a rash.

"Even if you had one or two of the symptoms and they seemed really minor, if you have an underlying chronic disease that affects a person's immune system -- asthma, diabetes -- you probably need to call the doctor," Craig said.

A sneeze clears the passages, ridding the body of contaminants, but putting them into the air for others to pick up. Doctors say it's best to sneeze into your sleeve. Click on the Blow Chart link on the right side of this page to find out how safe a sneezer you are.