Common Cold

Your little one will likely experience several upper respiratory infections or “colds” in their lives and, unfortunately, there is no cure. Here is some information about the signs, symptoms, and when to contact your pediatrician.

Signs and symptoms of a cold
- Runny nose
- Sneezing, coughing
- Low fever (less than 102)
- Sore throat, not wanting to eat
- Fussiness
- Slightly swollen glands
- If your child has a typical cold, the symptoms should decrease in 7-10 days.
How to treat your child’s cold
- Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold, but you can help your little one through a cold by:
  - Making sure they get plenty of rest
  - Keeping them well hydrated
- Why not antibiotics?
  - The common cold is caused by a virus, not bacteria, so antibiotics are not helpful.
When to contact your pediatrician
- If your child is having trouble breathing
- If your child’s lips or fingertips turn blue
- If your child has ear pain
- If nasal mucus lasts more than 10 days
- If your child is sleeping more than you would expect
How to prevent the spread of the common cold
- Frequent handwashing!
  - Soap & water is great, but alcohol-based hand sanitizer is perfect for when you’re on-the-go
- Teach kids to cover their coughs and sneezes
- Keep kids home when they are not feeling well

As always, if you have questions or concerns regarding the common cold in kids, contact your pediatrician. Here are some helpful links from the American Academy of Pediatrics regarding this topic:

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/ear-nose-throat/Pages/Children-and-Colds.aspx

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/symptom-checker/Pages/symptomviewer.aspx?symptom=Colds