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Last Updated: Aug 29, 2019
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Understanding COLD:
Cold is a viral infection.
Spreads from one person to another.
As your baby grow and comes in contact with more number of people there are more chances of them getting the infection, that means more number of cough and running nose when they start going out, going to cr�che or school.
Once your baby get infection from one virus they develop immunity to that virus and never get another infection from the same virus but since there are lots of viruses they keep getting infection from other ones.
Each episode usually last for about 5-7 days but can be prolonged to around 2 weeks also.
So the usual pattern is that they are UNWELL FOR AROUND 5-7 DAYS THEN WELL FOR 2-3 DAYS AND THEY AGAIN GET COLD. So it seems like your baby is ill all the time but that is actually not the case.
IS COLD BAD OR INDICATION OF POOR IMMUNITY
This is the most commonly asked question by parents.
When a baby is born there immune system is also immature like them and one of the ways to develop immunity is exposure to germs after which your baby produces antibodies against that germ.
This sounds technical but it?s true and in simple words it means that THE ONLY WAY YOUR CHILD WILL DEVELOP IMMUNITY TO A VIRUS IS BY GETTING INFECTED BY THAT VIRUS.
As the child grows, gradually the number of cold episodes will decrease as they will gradually get immune to lots of virus.
COLD IS CAUSED OR INCREASED IN COLD WEATHER OR BY EATING CERTAIN FOOD
As you all know by now that cold is a viral infection and is not related to cold climate or cold food.
Foods like curd or orange are usually labelled as culprit but actually VITAMIN C is one of the things which is found beneficial in cold and is found in these foods.
Curd also contains good bacteria which again are found to be beneficial for small babies.
THERE IS NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANY FOOD AND COLD FOUND TILL NOW IN ANY STUDIES SO NO FOOD RESTRICTION IS NEEDED WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM COLD.
TREATMENT
DO NOT TREAT ALL COUGH AND COLD. If your child is active, playful and not distressed due to his illness it is advised to avoid medicine.
Since your child will keep getting infection from various viruses if you try to treat all cold there are chances that your baby will be on some or other medication always.
Actually according to the FDA of USA and UK cough and cold medicine should not be used in kids less than 6 years old as they have not shown any beneficial results in variety of studies but actually causes lot of side effects.
NO ANTIBIOTICS SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR COMMON COLD as it is a viral infection and will not respond to antibiotics which are for bacteria.
THINGS TO DO DURING COLD
If your child has high grade fever you can give him paracetamol.
Maintain good hydration and give good amount of fluids to your baby.
You can use saline nasal spray for your baby but it has to be used in the correct way.
Since it is just normal saline it does not cause side effect and can be used for long time.
DO NOT USE MEDICATED NOSE DROPS OR NASAL DECONGESTANT FOR YOUR CHILD?S COLD.
Steam inhalation with salt and water is very beneficial as it keeps the airway moist and makes the mucous more liquid therefore easy to remove.
It also makes breathing easy for your baby. If given around 30 min to 1 hr before sleep it can help the child sleep better.
Maintain a good air circulation in the room.
During the illness there are chances that your baby?s appetite will decrease. Do not worry; let them take whatever and how much ever they want. DO NOT FORCE FEED.
COMMON COLD PREVENTION
Cold spreads via air and contaminated objects so the best way to prevent children from catching colds is to teach them proper HAND WASHING.
Make sure that your child washes their hand after coming from school or playing, before eating food and after using toilet.
If your child has a cold, it's still important to protect others from catching the cold. Teaching them to cover their mouth while coughing or sneezing or using tissues for the purpose.
RED FLAGS: Need to take your child immediately to a doctor.
High grade fever lasting for more than a day but still this alone is not an indication of using antibiotics.
Unable to feed properly or constantly vomiting.
Unusually fast breathing or noisy breathing.
Excessively sleepy and lethargic.
Constantly rubbing of the ears and crying if you touch the ear or any ear discharge.
Unable to sleep in the night.
Cold lasting for more than 2 weeks.
Presence of any rash over body
Cold is a viral infection.
Spreads from one person to another.
As your baby grow and comes in contact with more number of people there are more chances of them getting the infection, that means more number of cough and running nose when they start going out, going to cr�che or school.
Once your baby get infection from one virus they develop immunity to that virus and never get another infection from the same virus but since there are lots of viruses they keep getting infection from other ones.
Each episode usually last for about 5-7 days but can be prolonged to around 2 weeks also.
So the usual pattern is that they are UNWELL FOR AROUND 5-7 DAYS THEN WELL FOR 2-3 DAYS AND THEY AGAIN GET COLD. So it seems like your baby is ill all the time but that is actually not the case.
IS COLD BAD OR INDICATION OF POOR IMMUNITY
This is the most commonly asked question by parents.
When a baby is born there immune system is also immature like them and one of the ways to develop immunity is exposure to germs after which your baby produces antibodies against that germ.
This sounds technical but it?s true and in simple words it means that THE ONLY WAY YOUR CHILD WILL DEVELOP IMMUNITY TO A VIRUS IS BY GETTING INFECTED BY THAT VIRUS.
As the child grows, gradually the number of cold episodes will decrease as they will gradually get immune to lots of virus.
COLD IS CAUSED OR INCREASED IN COLD WEATHER OR BY EATING CERTAIN FOOD
As you all know by now that cold is a viral infection and is not related to cold climate or cold food.
Foods like curd or orange are usually labelled as culprit but actually VITAMIN C is one of the things which is found beneficial in cold and is found in these foods.
Curd also contains good bacteria which again are found to be beneficial for small babies.
THERE IS NO ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANY FOOD AND COLD FOUND TILL NOW IN ANY STUDIES SO NO FOOD RESTRICTION IS NEEDED WHEN YOUR CHILD IS SUFFERING FROM COLD.
TREATMENT
DO NOT TREAT ALL COUGH AND COLD. If your child is active, playful and not distressed due to his illness it is advised to avoid medicine.
Since your child will keep getting infection from various viruses if you try to treat all cold there are chances that your baby will be on some or other medication always.
Actually according to the FDA of USA and UK cough and cold medicine should not be used in kids less than 6 years old as they have not shown any beneficial results in variety of studies but actually causes lot of side effects.
NO ANTIBIOTICS SHOULD BE GIVEN FOR COMMON COLD as it is a viral infection and will not respond to antibiotics which are for bacteria.
THINGS TO DO DURING COLD
If your child has high grade fever you can give him paracetamol.
Maintain good hydration and give good amount of fluids to your baby.
You can use saline nasal spray for your baby but it has to be used in the correct way.
Since it is just normal saline it does not cause side effect and can be used for long time.
DO NOT USE MEDICATED NOSE DROPS OR NASAL DECONGESTANT FOR YOUR CHILD?S COLD.
Steam inhalation with salt and water is very beneficial as it keeps the airway moist and makes the mucous more liquid therefore easy to remove.
It also makes breathing easy for your baby. If given around 30 min to 1 hr before sleep it can help the child sleep better.
Maintain a good air circulation in the room.
During the illness there are chances that your baby?s appetite will decrease. Do not worry; let them take whatever and how much ever they want. DO NOT FORCE FEED.
COMMON COLD PREVENTION
Cold spreads via air and contaminated objects so the best way to prevent children from catching colds is to teach them proper HAND WASHING.
Make sure that your child washes their hand after coming from school or playing, before eating food and after using toilet.
If your child has a cold, it's still important to protect others from catching the cold. Teaching them to cover their mouth while coughing or sneezing or using tissues for the purpose.
RED FLAGS: Need to take your child immediately to a doctor.
High grade fever lasting for more than a day but still this alone is not an indication of using antibiotics.
Unable to feed properly or constantly vomiting.
Unusually fast breathing or noisy breathing.
Excessively sleepy and lethargic.
Constantly rubbing of the ears and crying if you touch the ear or any ear discharge.
Unable to sleep in the night.
Cold lasting for more than 2 weeks.
Presence of any rash over body
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