What is a Cold?
An upper respiratory infection, also known as a cold, is an infection caused by hundreds of different viruses. Symptoms of a cold include runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, hoarseness, and watery eyes. Runny nose and cough can last for 7 to 10 days. Some children can get a fever with a cold as well, though it usually does not last longer than 3 days. It is normal for babies and children to get 6 to 8 colds a year, and colds are not just limited to the winter months.
Warning Signs
You should always call your pediatrician if your child has any of the following warning signs or if you have any questions or concerns.
* Age younger than 1 month
* Age younger than 3 months and fever ≥100.4
* New fever after several days of cold symptoms without a fever
* Fever that lasts longer than 3 days or runny nose that lasts longer than 10 days
* Earache
* Yellow or green discharge from the eyes
* Difficulty breathing (e.g. breathing quickly, nostrils flaring, seeing ribs with each breath, using whole belly to breath)
* Decreased appetite and urine output (i.e. urinating less than once every 8 hours)
* Acting unusually sleepy, listless, or irritable
Treatment
There is no specific medicine, such as an antibiotic, that will cure a cold or make the symptoms clear any faster. However, there are several things you can do at home to make your child more comfortable while he has a cold.
Most importantly, do not give any nonprescription cough and cold preparations to children under 2 years old.
If your child has a fever, you may give acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin or Advil) to make him feel better. Do not use aspirin. If your child is younger than 3 months and has a temperature ≥100.4 or fever lasts more than 3 days in an older child, call your pediatrician. Always use plain acetaminophen or ibuprofen, not a combination product that includes a cough or cold medicine in addition to the fever reducer. For fever reducer dosing see our acetaminophen and ibuprofen dosing charts.
For nasal congestion, you can use nasal saline drops. Nasal saline is available without a prescription (make sure you get nasal saline, not a decongestant) or you can make your own by combining 1/2 teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of warm water. Place 1 to 3 drops in each nostril, wait 1 minute, and then have your child blow his nose or gently use a suction bulb in a child who is not old enough to blow his nose. Using saline followed by suction is especially helpful in babies when done a few minutes before breast- or bottle-feeding. If your child's nose is extremely congested and nasal saline is not helping clear it out, steam therapy can be very effective: go in the bathroom, close the door, turn on the hot water in the shower, and after the room fills with steam, hold your young child or have your older child sit or stand in the bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes while the hot water is running. Do not put your child in the water.
Placing a humidifier or vaporizer in your child's room will help prevent his nasal membranes from drying out and reduce the chance of nosebleeds, and you can also apply petroleum jelly around his nostrils to prevent irritation.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids. For babies who are breastfeeding, you may need to nurse more frequently but for shorter periods of time; likewise, babies who are bottlefed may take smaller amounts of formula more frequently.
Remember, you should always call your pediatrician if your child has any of the above warning signs, you have any questions or concerns, or if your child's condition does not improve with the above treatment recommendations.
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