Colds
An upper respiratory infection or cold in caused by a virus that infects the mucous membranes lining the nose, sinuses, and throat.
There are hundreds of viruses that cause the common cold.
Symptoms include:
- Runny nose
- Congestion
- Cough
- Sore Throat
- Headache
- Watery Eyes
- Red Eyes
- Fever
We recommend the following treatment of your child gets a cold:
- Give plenty of clear liquids
- Use a cool mist humidifier at night
- Use saline drops to help thin out the mucous
- Use a bulb suction in infants to help clear the mucous
Antibiotics are not effective against cold viruses. It is clear that using antibiotics when they are not needed is largely responsible for bacterial resistance. However, 10% of children will develop a secondary bacterial infection from a cold. Those children will benefit from antibiotics.
Call the office or make an appointment if:
- Your child is coughing so hard he vomits
- Your child has a cough that is keeping him/her up at night
- Your child has cough congestion that lasts longer than 10 days
- Your child is having difficulty breathing
- You child is complaining of ear pain
- Your child has signs of dehydration
- Your child develops fever several days into a cold
Over the counter cough and cold medications are not routinely recommended. We do not recommend products that combine acetaminophen or ibuprofen with cold medication.
