Kid Care: Colds

Colds are a common childhood illness and are caused by a virus, which means that antibiotics that treat bacteria will not help. If your child hasn’t had a fever for the past 24 hours and feels OK, they can return to regular activities at school and at play.  

 An older child usually does not need to see a healthcare provider unless the cold becomes serious. If your child is 3 months or younger, call your healthcare provider at the first sign of illness. A young baby's cold can become more serious very quickly. It can develop into a serious problem such as pneumonia.

There is not cure for the common cold, but you can take steps to help treat your child's symptoms.

Ease congestion

• Use a cool-mist vaporizer to help loosen mucus. Don’t use a hot-steam vaporizer with a young child, who could get burned. Make sure to clean the vaporizer often to help prevent mold growth.
• Try over-the-counter saline nasal sprays. They’re safe for children. These are not the same as nasal decongestant sprays, which may make symptoms worse.  Talk with a pharmacist if you have questions about what to use.
• Use a bulb syringe to clear the nose of a child too young to blow his or her nose. Wash the bulb syringe often in hot, soapy water. Be sure to rinse out all of the soap and drain all of the water before using it again.

Soothe a sore throat

• Offer plenty of liquids to keep the throat moist and reduce pain. Good choices include ice chips, water, or frozen fruit bars.
• Give children age 4 or older throat drops or lozenges to keep the throat moist and soothe pain. Note: Never give honey to a child younger than 1 year of age.
• Give ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) as advised by your child's healthcare provider to relieve pain. Never give aspirin to a child under age 18. It could cause a rare but serious condition called Reye’s syndrome.

Quiet a cough

• Serve warm fluids such as clear soups to help loosen mucus.
• Use a cool-mist vaporizer to ease croup. Croup causes dry, barking coughs.
• Use cough medicine for children age 6 or older only if advised by your child’s healthcare provider.

Preventing colds

To help children stay healthy:

• Teach children to wash their hands often. This includes before eating and after using the bathroom, playing with animals, or coughing or sneezing. Carry an alcohol-based hand gel containing at least 60% alcohol. This is for times when soap and water aren’t available.
• Remind children not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Throw tissues away right after they are used. Then wash your hands.
• Don't let children share drinking cups, utensils, or pacifiers.

Tips for correct handwashing

Use clean, running water and plenty of soap. Work up a good lather.

• Clean the whole hand, under the nails, between the fingers, and up the wrists.
• Wash for at least 20 seconds. This is about as long as it takes to say the alphabet or sing “Happy Birthday.” Scrub well.
• Rinse soap with the water running down the fingers, not up the wrists.
• In a public restroom, use a paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.  Touching the faucet and door handles with newly washed hands can make them dirty again.

When to seek medical attention for your child

Call your child's healthcare provider right away if your child has any of these symptoms:

• Fever (see Children and fever, below)
• Your child looks very ill or is unusually fussy or drowsy
• Severe ear pain or sore throat
• Unexplained rash
• Repeated vomiting and diarrhea
• A stiff neck or severe headache
• Persistent brown, green, or bloody mucus
• Signs of dehydration, which include severe thirst, dark yellow urine, infrequent urination, dull eyes, dry skin, and dry or cracked lips.
• Your child's symptoms seem to be getting worse
• Your child doesn’t look or act right to you 

 Call 911 if your child has:

• Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
• Trouble swallowing
• Signs of severe dehydration, which include sunken eyes, no tears or urine, and lethargic
• Blue, purple or gray color skin, lips, or fingernails

© The StayWell Company, LLC. 800 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions. This information has been modified by your health care provider with permission from the publisher.