Consumer Information

Upper Respiratory Infection In Children

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

The common cold is an infection (in-FEK-shun) that affects your child's nose, throat, ears, and sinuses. It is also called an upper respiratory infection (URI). The common cold is caused by a germ called a virus. There are many different viruses. The virus that causes a cold is contagious (kon-TAY-jus). This means it can be easily spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or touching hands. Children get colds more often in winter.
Your child may have a runny or stuffy nose. Your child may also have a fever, headache, body aches, or tiredness. Your child may have coughing, sneezing, sore throat, and red, watery, or sore eyes. There is no cure for the common cold. Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine will not work to treat the common cold, because it is caused by a virus. For healthy children, the common cold is usually not serious and does not need special treatment. Your child's cold symptoms will be worst for the first three to five days. His cold should gone in seven to fourteen days. Your child may continue to cough for two to three weeks after getting a cold.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Medicines:

Keep a written list of what medicines your child takes and when and why he takes them. Bring the list of his medicines or the medicine bottles when you visit your child's caregivers. Ask your child's caregiver for more information about the medicines. Do not give any medicines to your child without first asking your child's caregiver. This includes prescriptions, vitamins, herbs, over-the-counter drugs, or food supplements.
Always talk to the caregiver before giving younger children and babies any medicine. Most cough and cold medicines should not be given to a child less than three years old.
Antibiotics: Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine is given to fight infection (in-FEK-shun) caused by bacteria (bak-TE-re-ah). Always give your child's antibiotic exactly as ordered by the caregiver. Keep giving this medicine until it is completely gone, even if your child feels better. Stopping an antibiotic without the caregiver's OK may make it unable to kill the germs causing the infection.
Decongestant: Ask the caregiver if you should give your child a decongestant (dee-kon-JES-tant) to treat his stuffy nose. Read the label on the medicine container before giving over-the-counter medicine to your child. The label will tell you how much medicine should be given to your child, based on his age and weight. You may also ask your child's caregiver how much medicine should be given to your child. This medicine may make your child restless. If your child has trouble sleeping, do not give this medicine to him before his naps or bedtime.
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen: Ibuprofen (eye-bu-PRO-fen) and acetaminophen (a-seet-a-MIN-oh-fen) are over-the counter medicines that may help your child's fever or pain. Be sure to read the label on the medicine so that you give the right amount to your child. Ask your child's caregiver to help you learn the right amount to give your child.
Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could cause brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.

How can I help my child while he has a cold?

Help your child to rest.
Do not smoke around your child.
Run a cool-mist humidifier in the room. This will add moisture to the air and help your child breathe easier. Read the humidifier or vaporizer box instructions carefully before using.
Help your child drink at least six to eight cups of water each day. Follow the caregiver's advice if your child is on a fluid limit. Offer your child juice, popsicles, or warm soups or teas. Your child may eat solid food when he feels better.
Help your child eat a healthy diet. Feed your child healthy food from all of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help your child feel better and have more energy. It may also help him get better faster.
Soothe your child's throat. If your child is eight years or older, have him gargle with salt water. Make salt water by adding one fourth teaspoon salt to one cup warm water. Children who are four years or older may suck on hard candy, cough drops, or throat lozenges (LOZ-enjs). Do not give anything with honey in it to children under one year old.
Clear your baby's nose of mucus. Use a bulb syringe to remove mucus from a baby's nose. This is especially important for babies up to six months or younger. Squeeze the bulb and put the tip into one of your baby's nostrils. Gently close the other nostril. Slowly release the bulb so that it sucks up the mucus. Empty the bulb syringe onto a tissue. Put the tip of the bulb back into the nostril if necessary. Do the same thing in the other nostril. Make sure your baby's nose is clear of mucus before he starts feeding and before sleeping.
Use saline drops to thin mucus. The caregiver may want you to put saline drops into your baby's nose if the mucus is very thick. Saline nose drops may be bought at a drug or grocery store. About 15 to 20 minutes before feeding your baby, put two saline drops in each side of his nose. Follow the above directions by using a bulb syringe to suck out the nose drops and mucus.
Prevent spreading the cold to others. Try to keep your child away from other people during the first three to five days of his cold. Colds are spread most easily while your child has a fever and feels bad. Keep your child home from daycare or school until the fever is gone and he is feeling better.
Continue breast feeding. If you are a breast feeding mother, continue breast feeding your baby. Your breast milk may help protect your baby from certain infections.
Wash your and your child's hands often. Wash hands after blowing your child's nose, or after your child coughs or sneezes. Teach your child to cover his nose and mouth when he sneezes, coughs, and blows his nose.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
Your child's eyes are red and have yellow fluid coming out of them.
Your child's cold is worse after three to five days. Call if his cold has not gotten better in seven to ten days.
Your child complains of an earache. Call if he develops a rash or is repeatedly pulling on his ears.
Your child will not drink liquids or will not breast feed.
Your child is urinating less than normal. If your child is a baby, call if his diaper has been dry (no urine) for eight hours.
You have other concerns or questions.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

Your child has trouble breathing.
Your child has a dry mouth, cracked lips, cries without tears, or is dizzy. These are signs of dehydration (dee-heye-DRAY-shen).
You cannot wake up your child, or you cannot keep him awake.
Your child is not thinking clearly. Your baby has a weak cry, weak movement, or a poor suck. Call if your child or baby is acting very different than he normally does.
Your child complains of stiff neck and a bad headache.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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