About this topic
Your child has a viral upper respiratory infection. It is also called a URI or cold. A tiny germ called a virus causes this infection. It often affects your childs nose, throat, ears, and sinuses. A cold can easily spread from person to person. Coughing, sneezing, and touching something with the germ on it spreads the cold. ‚
Viral infections often go away after 2 to 3 weeks without treatment. But some can cause very serious health problems. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
Ask the doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do to care for your child. ‚
Help your child breathe more easily. ‚
- Have a cool-mist humidifier in your childs room. This will add moisture to the air.
- Remove mucus from your child's nose. This is very important for babies up to 6 months old because they most often breathe through the nose.
- Raise the head of your child's bed to help your child breathe easier. This will also help drain mucus.
- Do not smoke around your child.
- Keep your child's fluid levels up. Give your child lots of clear liquids to drink.
- Give your child a healthy diet such as fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat, and fish.
- If you are breastfeeding, continue.
- If your child is 8 years or older or already knows how to gargle, let your child gargle with salt water to help soothe the throat. Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt with a cup of warm water.
What follow-up care is needed?
The doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your childs progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
Follow your doctors instructions about your child's drugs. The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help a stuffy nose
- Lower fever
- Help with pain
- Fight an infection
- Clear mucus in the nose (saline drops)
- Build up your child's immune system (vitamin C and zinc)
Always talk to your doctor before you give your child any drugs. This includes over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and herbal supplements. ‚
Children younger than 18 should not take aspirin. This can lead to a very bad health problem. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
Your childs physical activities will be limited until your child gets well. Encourage your child to rest. Have your child lie on the couch or bed. Give your child quiet activities like reading books or watching TV or a movie. ‚
What problems could happen?
A cold may lead to: ‚
- Bronchitis
- Ear infection
- Sinus infection
- Lung infection
A cold may also cause the signs of asthma in children with asthma. ‚
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill the virus.
- Teach your child to:
- Cover the mouth and nose with tissue when coughing or sneezing. Your child can also cough into the elbow.
- Throw away tissues in the trash.
- Wash hands after touching used tissues, coughing, or sneezing.
- Do not let your child share things with sick people. Make sure your child does not share toys, pacifiers, towels, food, drinks, or knives and forks with others while sick.
- Keep your child away from crowded places. Keep your child away from people with colds.
- Have your child get a flu shot each year.
- Keep your child at home until the fever is gone and your child feels better. This will help to stop spreading the cold to others.
When do I need to call the doctor?
Seek urgent care or go to the ER right away if your child has: ‚
- Trouble breathing
- Dry mouth, cracked lips, cries without tears, or is dizzy
- Signs of a very bad reaction. These include wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Problems waking up and is very weak
Call your doctor if your child has any of these: ‚
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum.
- Will not drink or breastfeed
- Passing urine less than normal
- Health problem gets worse or does not improve in 7 to 10 days
- You have other questions or concerns
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you about your child. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my childs condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my child's signs.
- I can tell you what I will do if my child is very weak and hard to wake up or has trouble breathing.
Where can I learn more?
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/cold-rhume/index_e.php ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/common/cold.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚