My 3-year-old and my 6-year-old keep trading colds. It seems as if we have had nonstop sniffles all winter. I never know which cold medicine is right for children this age. Is there anything that’s really effective?

No. Most cold medicines are designed for adults and haven’t been tested thoroughly in children.

The antihistamines that are common ingredients make adults sleepy but can sometimes stimulate children and keep them awake. Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine can also make children jumpy.

Pain relievers like ibuprofen, aspirin and acetaminophen might actually increase nasal symptoms and might make people more infectious. Stick with chicken soup.

I sit at a computer most of the day, and it is very uncomfortable when my hemorrhoids flare up. I have tried some over-the-counter creams without much luck.

My doctor recommended a warm sitz bath. That’s OK when I’m home, but doesn’t help much at work. Is there anything else that could ease the pain?

You might ultimately need surgery to solve your problem, but in the meantime some simple remedies might relieve your discomfort. While a warm bath might be comforting at home, cold therapy might be helpful at work. One reader suggested sitting on a bag of frozen peas. It shifts around so the cold gets where it is needed.

Another way to apply cold is with a small, plastic cylinder containing a cold-retaining gel. It is stored in the freezer and inserted like a suppository for six to eight minutes. The cooling action relieves inflammation and pain. One such product is called Anurex and can be viewed on the Web at www.anurex.com.

Another option is an oral preparation containing citrus bioflavonoids. Look for the acronym HER (hydroxyethylrutosides) at your health food store. Several studies suggest that these compounds can help hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

My husband is almost obsessive about washing his hands, especially in the wintertime. Your columns have reinforced his worries that cold and flu germs lurk on every doorknob, banister and elevator button. If he shakes hands with someone, he can hardly wait to wash his hands.

When I complain that he’s overdoing it, he points out that he hasn’t had a cold for two years. But his hands are like sandpaper. He refuses to use my hand cream because he says it smells girlie. He also complains that if he uses a moisturizer it messes up his computer mouse.

Hand washing can be helpful in preventing the spread of colds and other common viruses. But it is possible to carry things too far. Washing too often is hard on skin.

Farmers found years ago that the salve they put on cows’ udders to keep them from chapping was also helpful for their own hands. This old-fashioned barnyard aid known as Bag Balm certainly does not smell “girlie,” but it does smell. A more pleasant alternative is Udder Cream, which also does a good job as a moisturizer.

Other alternatives include Corn Huskers Lotion, Burt’s Bees Hand Salve and Doctor Burt’s Comfrey Ointment. One of these might suit your husband.

We are sending you our “Guide to Skin Care,” which provides more details on dealing with dry skin. Others who would like a copy should send $1 with a long (No. 10), stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. S-28, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, N.C. 27717-2027.

To avoid problems with the computer mouse, he should apply the moisturizer before bed and wear white cotton gloves from a photo supply store while he sleeps.

Are partially hydrogenated vegetable oils safe to eat? So many of the foods I find in the supermarket have this ingredient.

Cookies, crackers, cakes, mixes and many more items list hydrogenated vegetable oils on the label. These manufactured fats have a long shelf life but contain trans-fatty acids. Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the department of nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health, believes that such shortening contributes to heart disease and should be avoided if at all possible.

Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist. Teresa Graedon holds a doctorate in medical anthropology and is a nutrition expert. Write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 235 E. 45th St., New York, N.Y. 10017, or e-mail them via their Web site, www.peoplespharmacy.com.