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Common Cold in Children

Common Cold in Children

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The common cold in children, just like in the adult, is caused by a cold virus that inflames the nasal passages and throat. It requires different levels of cold treatment depending on the severity. The most common cold virus is the rhinovirus and corona virus. Cold symptoms include runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, sore throat and perhaps upper chest congestion. There may or may not be a fever present when your child has a common cold. These are the cause of most school absences and doctor visits every year over any other illness. While cold treatment might be successful at home sometimes that doctor visit is needed. Children can contract the common cold any time of year but the most common cold ‘season’ is from fall to spring. The reason for this is thought to be that they are inside more and in closer proximity with other children. This is also a time in which the air indoors is warm and dry causing dry nasal passages which are an inviting environment for a cold virus.

Common Cold: How Children Catch a Cold

Unfortunately the common cold is all too easy for children to get. Just the very nature of young children’s behaviors and activities put them in the direct line of fire for the cold virus. The common cold is contracted by getting the cold virus into the body where it can grow and thrive and this happens in one of two ways. Direct contact is one of those ways. Children are constantly touching their nose, mouth, eyes and other people. A child may touch another person with a cold virus. They might pick up a crayon or toy that was handled by someone else with a cold virus. That cold virus is then on their hands which will soon find their way into the child’s mouth or nose and the cycle of the common cold continues. The other method of transmission of the common cold is through the air. If someone with a common cold coughs or sneezes, the cold virus can actually travel several feet. When a child inhales that cold virus it settles in to take up residence and cold symptoms will soon follow.

Common Cold Treatment for Children

A common cold in a child requires an increase in fluid intake as much as possible. Popsicles are a great way to get your child to take extra fluid and will help in soothing a sore throat and other cold symptoms. Extra fluids will help keep nasal passages moist and prevent dehydration. Saline nose drops and instructing your child to blow their nose is helpful. Use a cool mist humidifier in the child’s room. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used for generalized aches and pains or for fever. There are many over the counter pediatric medications for cold treatment and cold symptoms. Never use aspirin for a child with a cold virus or any other type of viral infection as it can cause serious complications and a condition called Reye’s syndrome. Discuss this and other concerns you have with your pediatrician. Of course the best cold treatment is prevention. Teach your child good hand washing habits, keep the child away from others with cold symptoms if possible and regularly wash toys, bedding and any objects frequently handled by the child. Be comforted in knowing that as your child grows older you’ll be seeing less of the common cold.

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