Cold / Upper Respiratory Infection Care

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.