Kid Care: Colds
There’s no substitute for good old-fashioned loving care. Beyond that, if a child hasn’t had a fever for the past 24 hours and feels okay, he or she can return to regular activities at school and at play. The following suggestions should help your child get back up to speed soon. You can help prevent future colds by having your child use disposable tissues and by washing hands frequently.
Ease Congestion
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Steam from a shower or a cool-mist vaporizer can help loosen mucus. Don’t use a hot-steam vaporizer with a young child, who could get burned.
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Use over-the-counter decongestants appropriate for the child’s age. Check with your pharmacist for dosage levels for young children.
When to Call the Doctor
Call the doctor’s office if your child has any of the signs or symptoms described below:
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A high fever (100.0°F or higher in a child under 3 months, 101.0°F or higher in a child 3–36 months, 103.0°F or higher in a child over 36 months) or a fever that lasts more than 2 days, despite medication
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Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
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A stiff neck or headache
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Difficulty swallowing
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Persistent brown, green, or bloody mucus
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Signs of dehydration, which include severe thirst, dark yellow urine, infrequent urination, dull or sunken eyes, dry skin, and dry or cracked lips
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Your child still doesn’t look right to you, even after taking a nonaspirin pain reliever
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Soothe a Sore Throat
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Offer plenty of liquids to keep the throat moist and reduce pain. Good choices include diluted fruit juice, liquid gelatin, and flat soda.
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Offer frozen juice bars for an added treat. They numb the throat, lessening the pain.
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Give older children throat drops or lozenges to keep the throat moist and numb the pain.
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Give acetaminophen (not aspirin) to relieve pain.
Quiet a Cough
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Serve warm fluids such as soup to help loosen mucus.
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Use steam from a shower for croup (a dry, barking cough).
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Use cough syrup only if the child can’t sleep or is uncomfortable.
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Avoid all milk products, including ice cream, which increase mucus production.