Consider these tips:
Offer fluids. Liquids such as water, juice and broth can help loosen congestion. Chicken soup — which can have a mild anti-inflammatory effect — is another good choice.
Encourage coughing. Coughing can help clear mucus from your child’s airway.
Use a suction bulb for a baby or young child. This device draws mucus out of the nose. Squeeze the bulb part of the syringe, gently place the tip inside one nostril and slowly release the bulb.
Moisten nasal passages. Run a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room. To prevent mold growth, change the water daily and follow the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Steam from a hot shower may help, too.
Use saline nasal drops. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops — or saline spray, for an older child — can loosen thick nasal mucus and make it easier for your child to breathe. For babies, follow up with a suction bulb.
Soothe a sore throat. Ice cream or frozen fruit pops might feel good on a sore throat. Warm or cold beverages sometimes help, too. For an older child, gargling salt water or sucking on a piece of hard candy or a throat lozenge might offer additional relief. Remember that hard candy and lozenges — both choking hazards — aren’t appropriate for younger children.
Encourage rest. Consider keeping your child home from child care, school and other activities.
When should I contact the doctor?
Most colds simply need to run their course — which generally takes about five to seven days. It’s important to take your child’s signs and symptoms seriously, however. If you suspect something isn’t right, consult your child’s doctor. It’s especially important to seek medical attention if your child:
Has a high or persistent fever — or is younger than age 3 months and has any fever
Has trouble drinking
Isn’t urinating as often as usual
Has trouble breathing
Has a persistent cough
Has yellow or green eye discharge
Has thick, green nasal discharge
Seems to have ear or sinus pain.
MAYOCLINIC.
No comments:
Post a Comment