Congestion is an unfortunate and usually unavoidable part of being a baby. So what are the best congestion relief methods? A hands on approach. In this video, Dr. Preeti Parikh explains the steps necessary to aid in children's congestion relief using only non-medicated nasal decongestant spray or saline nasal drops, a suction bulb, a tissue and a cup. While your child certainly won’t like this process, it is important to get their stuffy noses cleared up so they can get the sleep they need. The suction bulb should be placed just inside the nose to prevent discomfort. After the saline is inserted into your child's nostrils, you can use the suction bulb to remove any mucus and then deposit it into a cup or a tissue.

This video features Preeti Parikh, MD. Dr. Parikh, a board-certified pediatrician affiliated with The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, is HealthiNation's chief medical editor.
Kids and Colds Review
Reviewed 6/28-6/29, reference documents downloaded July 19-23. by Mera Goodman
Video 1: Children’s Medicines
- n/a
Video 2: Call the Doctor?
- Common cold is the number one reason children visit the doctor and miss school
- Uptdate 2014: The common cold in children: Clinical features and diagnosis
- Kids get an average of 3-10 colds per year
- (8-10 colds in first two years of life - healthy children 2013)
- 6-8 colds per year up to 1 / mo in season for kids < 6 years old; the common cold patient information; uptodate May 2013
- Last up to 10-14 days
- Uptodate: the common cold in children: June 2014
- Uptodate: the common cold patient information; uptodate May 2013
- Call <3 months, other reasons when to call physician
- Healthy children 2013 – call if 1 week of congestion, <3 months of age
- Use cold mist vaporizer - The common cold in children: Treatment and prevention. April, 2014
- Antibiotics do not cure a cold
- CDC, 2014
- Buckwheat/honey more effective than cough medicine for young children
- Uptodate: the common cold in children: June 2014
- Otc cold medications work less effectively for child <6, do not give <6 unless under doctor’s discretion
- Healthy children 2013
- Do not give for < 4 years old, CDC 2014
- No aspirin if <18
- Lexicomp says children < 12 yo
- American Family Physician says <18 yo - Aspirin Use in Children for Fever or Viral Syndromes, 2009 for viral illness
Video 3: Clearing their noses
- How to use a bulb syringe: Uptodate: Patient information: The common cold in children (Beyond the Basics).
References:
- Pappas DE, Hendley JO. Uptodate: The common cold in children: Treatment and prevention. April, 2014. Downloaded July 19, 2014.
- Pappas DE, Hendley JO. Uptodate: Patient information: The common cold in children (Beyond the Basics). May 2013. Downloaded July 23, 2014.
- Pappas DE, Hendley JO. Uptodate: The common cold in children: Clinical features and diagnosis. January, 2013. Dpwnloaded on July 19, 2014.
- “Symptom Relief” CDC, Atlanta, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/symptom-relief.html Downloaded July 22, 2014
- “Cold and Cough Medicines: Information for Parents” CDC, Atlanta, 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PediatricColdMeds/. Downloaded July 23, 2014
- “Children and Colds” Healthychildren.org, July 9, 2013, AAP, DC. http://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Children-and-Colds.aspx downloaded July 19, 2014
- Aspirin drug profile: pediatric population, Lexicomp, downloaded July 19, 2014.
- Beutler AI, Chestnut GT, Mattingly JC, Jamieson B. Aspirin Use in Children for Fever or Viral Symptoms. Am Fam Physician. 2009 Dec 15;80(12):1472-1474
Note: These are all the sources used for every video in this series, not every source listed was used in this specific video.