Summary for HealthiNation’s Kids & The Common Cold

Hosted by Dr. Preeti Parikh, Pediatrician

Kids & the Common Cold

The common cold is the number one reason children visit the doctor and stay home from school. On average kids get three to 10 colds every year and each cold can last as long as 10 to 14 days. Most colds that a child gets are nothing more than a nuisance, but in some cases you may need to call a doctor, particularly if the symptoms are extreme or if your child is very young.

What Is The Common Cold?

A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, which is the area from your neck up. There are over 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, and they are highly contagious. Because the common cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help to either stop symptoms or cure the cold.

How Do Kids Catch Colds?

A cold virus usually enters the body through the eyes or nose. The virus itself can be found in nasal secretions. Although a common cold can spread through inhaling droplets from other people's sneezes and coughs, it often spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold, or by touching shared objects. If your child touches his or her eyes or nose after coming in contact with the virus, there’s a good chance he or she will catch that cold. Children catch colds easily since their resistance isn’t fully developed.

What are the Symptoms of a Cold?

The typical symptoms of the common cold are:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Scratchy or sore throat
• Cough
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Watery eyes
• Low fever: less than 102 F
• Mild fatigue

As the common cold runs its course, you’ll notice that the discharge from your child’s nose may become thicker and yellow or green.

When to Call the Doctor

There is the chance your child may actually have something more serious than a common cold, like the flu, which may require treatment by a doctor. Here’s how to know the difference between a cold and the flu:

A cold usually peaks in two to three days and lasts for about a week, with possible mild symptoms leftover for an additional week. If your child’s symptoms last for more than a week without improvement, or he or she has a fever higher than 103 degrees F for more than two to three days, aches, fatigue, sweating or cough with colored phlegm, you should see your doctor.

In general, children get colds more frequently than adults. Your child doesn't need to see the doctor for a routine common cold, but you'll need to seek medical attention right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms:

• Fever of 103 degrees F or higher, chills or sweating
• Fever that lasts more than 72 hours
• Vomiting or abdominal pain
• Unusual sleepiness
• Severe headache
• Difficulty breathing
• Persistent crying
• Ear pain, which may be a sign of an ear infection

Infants may simply cry or pull on the affected ear. Unlike a common cold, ear infections may require treatment with antibiotics. See your doctor if you think your child may have an ear infection.

Preventing a Cold

Preventing your child from getting a cold means avoiding contact with others who may be sick, or taking a few extra precautions to try to prevent the virus from infecting your child:

• Wash hands frequently. If water isn't available, then use an alcohol-based hand gel or wipe.
• Scrub their stuff. Keep doorknobs, handles and countertops clean, especially when someone in your family has a cold. Wash your child's toys after playtime.
• Use tissues. Teach your child to use tissues when he or she must sneeze or cough.
• Don't share. Discourage your child from sharing cups and utensils when you or someone else is sick.
• Stay away. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a common cold for an extended period.
• Don't touch your face. The eyes and nose are direct entry points for the common cold virus, encourage your child to avoid putting his or her hands in the mouth.

Treating a Cold

Since there is no cure, the only way to rid your child of a cold is to wait it out and treat the symptoms. Here are some things you can do:

• Drink plenty of fluids. Give you child plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration, and to loosen mucus.
• Use saline nasals drops. Try non-medicated saline nasal drops to help thin mucus, along with a suction bulb to clear their head.
• Keep air moist. Use a cold mist humidifier in your child’s room to help sooth irritated nasal passages.
• Use honey and buckwheat. Believe it or not, buckwheat or dark honey may be the best choice for reducing and soothing the cough of a child over 1 year old. Studies show these natural remedies are even more effective in young children than cough medicines.

Kids & Cold Medications

Adults frequently turn to over-the-counter medicines to help relieve the annoying symptoms of a cold, such as multi-symptom pills or cough syrups that bundle together various drugs like antihistamines, decongestants, cough suppressants, and pain relievers.

But for younger children, whose bodies are different than adults’, we need to be careful with these medications. They can have life threatening side effects if a child is accidentally overdosed, and research suggests many aren’t as effective for children under age 6 as they are for adults. Remember, over-the-counter cold medications do not cure a cold, or even shorten how long it lasts.

If you do think your child needs over-the-counter medication, it’s usually best to check with your doctor to be sure they are appropriate and safe for their age and condition. Here are some guidelines to keep in mind when considering an over-the-counter medication for your child:

• Caution for under age 2. Children under 2 years of age should never given cold and cough medications without specific instructions and guidance from a doctor. They bring high risks for young children, and should be avoided.
• Avoid adult medications. Never use adult medication for any child under 12 years old. The dosages and drug concentrations for these medications are developed for adult bodies and metabolism.
• Don’t give aspirin. Never give aspirin to a child under 18 years old; it can cause Reyes syndrome, a rare, but potentially fatal disease.
• For pain relief and fevers. Your doctor may recommend acetaminophen, or if your child is over 6 months old, ibupropen, to help with a high fever or as a pain reliever.
• Read labels carefully. Read the entire label and be sure you know what is in the medication you are buying. If you aren’t certain if the medication you have is appropriate for your child talk to your doctor or pharmacists. Read the “Drug Fact” section on the box and follow the directions carefully. Use the package guidelines to determining dosage based on both age and weight, and also check the “active ingredients” section to see what is in it, and be sure it’s appropriate for your child. Check to see if the drug is labeled “infant” or “pediatric”, these come in different concentrations than other cold and cough remedies.
• Beware of double dosing. Pay special attention that you aren’t giving a double dose of something, like Ibupropen or acetaminophen. These medications are often found in many cold and cough medications.

Tips for Giving Kids Medication

If you are giving your child medication, the most important things to remember are to be sure you are giving the appropriate drug, and to be sure you are measuring out the right dosage.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind, depending on whether you are giving your child a liquid medication or a pill:

• Liquids. Most liquid medications will come with their own measuring devices, like a dosing syringe, cup, or spoon. It’s always best to use the one that comes in the package. And never use a household spoon, they aren’t made for accurate measuring and each household teaspoon is actually very different from one another. It’s also best to avoid using dosing devices from other medications. They can be very different, and could lead to over or under dosing. Be sure to shake the liquid medications first, and hold it up to eye level to measure accurately.
• Pills. If your child is old enough to take pills, but can’t yet swallow them, ask your doctor or pharmacist if it can be crushed or cut, and also ask if it is safe to put the medication in certain foods. If the type of pill you are giving your child can be crushed and combined with food, you can crush them between spoons, or in plastic bag, or if they are capsules, open them up, and add the powder to a soft food like pudding or applesauce. But be sure you are only adding the pill powder to a small amount of food to be sure your child eats it all and gets the full dosage of the medication.
• Care in dosing infants. Use a dosing syringe or dropper, preferably the one that comes with the medication, or consult with your pharmacist to purchase a device that is appropriate for your baby and the medication he or she is taking. Never add medication to your baby‘s bottle, if they don’t finish the bottle, they won’t get the full dosage. Instead, if you need to, add breast milk or formula to the medicine and use the dosing device.
• Give the full prescription. If your doctor prescribes five days of medication, make sure your child takes all of it, even if they’re feeling better; this is a sign the drugs are working.
• Store medications properly. Always store drugs in a safe, out-of-reach location. It is recommended that you do not store drugs in the bathroom because of temperature and moisture changes that can occur, because they can affect medicines.
• Watch for reactions or problems. If you see any signs of a reaction, such as a rash, or other side effects call your doctor immediately. If your child has difficulty breathing, or has a seizure, call 911.

HealthiNation offers health information for educational purposes only; this information is not meant as medical advice. Always consult your doctor about your specific health condition.