Managing the Common Cold in Children: Symptoms and Home Care

Managing the Common Cold in Children: Symptoms and Home Care

The common cold is the most frequent illness in childhood, with young children experiencing 6 to 8 colds per year on average. While colds can be frustrating and uncomfortable, they are usually harmless and help build your child's immune system.

What Causes the Common Cold

Colds are caused by viruses, most commonly rhinoviruses. There are over 200 different cold viruses, which is why children get multiple colds each year. These viruses spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, or through touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face.

Recognizing Cold Symptoms

Cold symptoms typically develop 1 to 3 days after exposure and can last 7 to 10 days, though cough may persist for 2 to 3 weeks. Common symptoms include runny or stuffy nose (discharge starts clear, may become thicker and yellow or green), sneezing and coughing, mild sore throat, low-grade fever (under 102°F), mild headache, decreased appetite, and fatigue or fussiness.

Important note: Thick, colored mucus does NOT automatically mean your child needs antibiotics. This is a normal part of the cold process as the body fights the virus.

Cold vs. Other Illnesses

Flu typically causes higher fever (often above 102°F), more severe body aches, and sudden onset. Allergies cause clear, watery discharge, itchy eyes, and symptoms lasting beyond 2 weeks without fever. COVID-19 can present like a cold but may include loss of taste or smell.

Effective Home Care Strategies

Since colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't help. Focus on keeping your child comfortable:

Hydration: Encourage plenty of fluids including breast milk, formula, water, diluted juice, or warm soup. For children over 1 year, warm water with lemon and honey can help.

Rest and Comfort: Let your child sleep as much as needed and keep activities quiet and low-key.

Nasal Care: Use saline nose drops or spray to loosen mucus. For babies and young children, use a bulb syringe or nasal aspirator after saline drops. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child's room to ease congestion.

Symptom Relief by Age: For babies under 1 year, use saline drops and gentle suctioning before feedings. For toddlers 1-5 years, honey (1 teaspoon) can help soothe cough. For school-age children, gargling with warm salt water can ease sore throat.

What About Cold Medicines

The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend over-the-counter cold and cough medicines for children under 4 years due to lack of effectiveness and potential side effects. For older children, these medicines may provide some relief but won't shorten the cold's duration.

When to Call the Doctor

Parents throughout Princeton, Hamilton, and West Windsor should contact us if your child has: any fever in a baby under 3 months, fever over 102°F in babies 3-6 months, fever lasting more than 3 days, symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement, severe or worsening cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain, severe headache, ear pain or drainage, unusual drowsiness or irritability, or refusal to drink fluids.

Preventing the Spread of Colds

Teach frequent handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, keep hands away from face, clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces, teach children to cough into their elbow, and keep sick children home from daycare or school.

If your child in Robbinsville or surrounding areas experiences persistent cold symptoms or complications, our pediatric team is here to help.

When Your Child Can Return to Activities

Children can typically return to daycare or school when fever is gone for 24 hours without medication and they feel well enough to participate. Some lingering cough or runny nose is normal and not a reason to keep them home if they otherwise feel well.