Pediatric Common Cold Treatment Doctor Q&A
Colds are readily transmitted contagious illnesses that affect the sinuses, nose, and throat. People of all ages, especially children, are most commonly impacted by the viral infection known as the cold. The typical signs and symptoms of a common cold such as runny nose, sneezing, coughing, headache, sore throat, exhaustion, and fever. Dr. Usha Rani K. Reddy, M.D., a board-certified emergency medicine physician, offers pediatric common cold treatment if your child exhibits symptoms of difficulty breathing, vomiting, and high fever. For more details, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Downtown Long Beach, Bixby Knolls, and Paramount, CA.
Table of Contents:
How is the common cold treated in children?
What are the stages of cold?
What are the symptoms of the common cold in babies?
How long does a pediatric cold last?
When your little one has a cough or a sniffly nose, the natural reaction for parents is to worry. While a pediatric cold is a mild infection that will usually dissipate on it’s own after a week or so, symptoms may be uncomfortable and, in some cases, may require a physician’s assessment.
At Reddy Urgent Care, we provide pediatric treatment to help get your child back on the road to health. If they have a cold that isn’t going away on its own, or is getting significantly worse, contact us today or walk in for a same-day appointment. Our team of health care specialists will provide them with the safe, comfortable, and compassionate care that they need to feel better as soon as possible.
The good news is colds will usually clear up on their own with at-home care and don’t typically require medical treatment. Popular at-home remedies include:
– Gargling with salt-water.
– Putting saline drops in the nostrils to help relieve congestion.
– Using a humidifier to increase air moisture.
– Dabbing petroleum on raw areas, especially under the nose.
– Giving hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat.
– Running a warm bath.
– Using a very low setting on a heating pad to soothe soreness.
– Cool compresses or clothes pressed against the temple.
Child safe over-the-counter medicine can help provide symptom relieve to your little one, however, it’s incredibly important to dose appropriately using the package directions for age and weight located inside or on the back of the container.
On average, a children’s cold typically lasts between 7-10 days with 3 distinctive stages. They are as follows:
Early Stage (days 1-3): During the first few days, your child will begin showing signs and symptoms of a cold – most notably a sore throat, coughing, congestion, hoarseness, runny nose, sneezing, body aches, and fatigue.
Peak Stage (says 4-7): During this time, symptoms tend to be at their highest level of intensity.
Late Stage (days 8-10): At this point, your child’s cold should be winding down. Their symptoms should be less severe or have subsided completely, though it’s normal for some symptoms (especially cough) to linger for longer even though the others may have lifted.
It’s important to note that no matter what the stage, if your child has visible symptoms, they are still contagious and can spread their cold to others. Therefor, it’s best to keep them away from social situations such as preschool, playgrounds, and play dates.
Babies have it tough when it comes to not feeling well as they can’t verbalize how they’re feeling. It’s up to the parents to recognize the early signs of cold, monitor appropriately, and seek further care if symptoms continue to worsen.
The most readily observed symptoms of a cold in babies are:
– Congestion
– Coughing
– Headache
– Hoarseness
– Low-grade fever
– Runny or stuffy nose
– Slight body aches
– Sneezing
– Sore throat
– Thicker nasal discharge
When it comes to treatment, it typically involves easing their symptoms by ensuring they’re properly hydrated and that the air is kept moist to help keep nasal passages open.
However, very young infants (those 6 months and under) should see a pediatrician at the first sign of the common cold as this may be an early sign of a more severe condition such as croup or pneumonia.
Colds are the most common infectious disease in the North America with the average child contracting it 2-5 times a year. Luckily, most pediatric colds resolve on their own after 7-10 days and usually only require at-home care and rest.
It’s important to remember that colds are very contagious, especially in the first 2–4 days after symptoms start, so it’s important to keep your child away from other until their symptoms resolve.
If your child or newborn has a cold that you’re concerned about, contact the team of pediatric specialists at Reddy Urgent Care. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of care to your little one so that they can return to feeling their best as soon as possible. Reach out today for more information or walk-in for a same day appointment whenever you’re ready. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Downtown Long Beach, Bixby Knolls, and Paramount, CA. We serve patients from Downtown Long Beach CA, Bixby Knolls Long Beach CA, Paramount CA, East Side CA, Los Altos CA, and surrounding areas.
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