• Home
  • Medical Information
  • Our Rates
  • Office Info
  • Team
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Medical Information
  • Our Rates
  • Office Info
  • Team
  • Contact
Pullman & Associates - Panda Pediatrics
  • Home
  • Medical Information
  • Our Rates
  • Office Info
  • Team
  • Contact

Medical Information

Categories

All
Breastfeeding
Bumps/Scrapes/Other Injuries
Common Illnesses
Emergencies
Fever Care
Giving Birth
Home Care
How To
Newborn Care
New Parents
Preparation
Symptoms
Tips To Stay Healthy

Archives

November 2020
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019

    Author

    The staff of Panda Pediatrics, located in Washington, D.C.

    Categories

    All
    Breastfeeding
    Bumps/Scrapes/Other Injuries
    Common Illnesses
    Emergencies
    Fever Care
    Giving Birth
    Home Care
    How To
    Newborn Care
    New Parents
    Preparation
    Symptoms
    Tips To Stay Healthy

    Archives

    November 2020
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019

    RSS Feed

Back to Blog

Cold / Upper Respiratory Infection Care

2/3/2019

 
Picture
The common cold involves an array of symptoms including runny or stuffy nose, congestion, fever, sore throat, cough, hoarseness, red eyes, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck. A cold or URI is a viral infection of the nose and throat.

Cold viruses are spread from one person to another by droplets through hand contact, coughing, and sneezing, not by cold air or drafts. Since there are up to 200 different cold viruses, healthy children still commonly contract six to ten colds each year.

A typical course of cold symptoms may include a fever that lasts 3 days, nose and throat symptoms that last 1- 2 weeks, and a cough that may linger for 2 to 3 weeks. The main things to watch for are secondary bacterial infections such as ear infections, yellow drainage from the eyes, sinus pressure or pain, or difficulty breathing.

Home care remedies usually do not impact how long a cold lasts, but can relieve many of the symptoms. Examples of home treatment for associated symptoms include:
  • Runny nose: Nasal discharge is the nose’s way of eliminating viruses. Put a thin layer of vaseline or Aquaphor on the area under the nose to avoid irritation. You may gently use a soft rubber suction bulb to remove the secretions if necessary.
  • Stuffy nose and congestion: Most stuffy noses are blocked by dry mucus. Blowing the nose or suction alone cannot remove most dry secretions. Normal saline nose drops are very effective for loosening dry mucus. Place three drops of warm normal saline drops in each nostril, using a washcloth, cotton ball or syringe. Frequently, the baby will sneeze the loosened mucous out, otherwise you may use a soft cleanable rubber suction bulb to suck it out. Over use of the suction bulb may be traumatic to the nasal tissue, so try to use it only when absolutely necessary. It is especially important to clear a stuffy nose in young infants because they are obligated to breathe through the nose while they are sucking.

The older child should try to gently blow his nose after instilling the saline drops. Use nasal washes 2-4 times per day or whenever your child is having trouble breathing through his nose.

When your child sleeps you may use a cool mist humidifier in his or her room. The most effective steam room, however, is your smallest bathroom with the shower running on hot. Sit in the steamy room with your child for 20 minutes three or more times a day.
Comments
read more
comments powered by Disqus

We Would Love to Have You Visit Soon!


Hours

Monday - Friday
8am-12pm & 1pm-5pm

Telephone

(202) 466-5350

Address

2440 M Street NW
Suite #422
Washington, DC 20037

POLICIES

Medical Advice Disclaimer
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy