Treating Your Child’s Cold or Flu
About 36,000 people die each
year from the flu, according to the CDC, and parents can help prevent
their children from catching it. Vaccinating children 6 months and older
may prevent the infection, says Kids Health First. Prevention is important
because children easily pass along the virus to others at school and
play. And children are at a higher risk for more serious complications,
such as pneumonia or even death. To help parents determine whether
their child has a cold or the flu, Kids Health First offers these tips.
Symptoms of a Cold:
Cold and flu symptoms are similar,
and sometimes difficult to diagnose without the aid of a doctor. When
parents are in doubt, Kids Health First recommends that children and
adolescents see their pediatrician, who can administer tests to determine
if a child has the flu. Cold symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose,
sore throat, coughing, sneezing and watery eyes.
Symptoms of the Flu:
The flu is an infection of
the nose, throat and lungs caused by the influenza virus. It spreads
from person to person and usually lasts about a week. But, it can last
longer and be deadly. Flu symptoms may include headache, extreme fatigue,
cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, diarrhea, vomiting
and a high fever (see age-related temperatures below).
Treating Your Child’s Cold at Home:
- Avoid giving children under the age of 2 cold medication unless your pediatrician recommends a specific product.
- Avoid giving your children aspirin since it can cause Reye's syndrome, a serious illness that affects the organs, especially the brain and liver, and can lead to death.
- Make sure all medications you give your children are made for infants or children.
- Give children under two years of age acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) to relieve pain and lower fever. For children 6 months of age or older, you may give them acetaminophen or Ibuprofen (brand name: Motrin or Advil). The dosage depends on the child’s weight and age. When the age and weight do not match, use the weight as your reference. Consult your pediatrician for specific recommendations.
- Keep children with a fever at home.
- Make sure your children are getting plenty of rest.
- Provide plenty of fluids to prevent dryness of the nose and throat, and to make mucus flow more freely.
- To treat a stuffy nose, use saline drops from the pharmacy or make your own, using 8 ounces of warm water and 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
Protect Your Children From the Flu:
- Get your children who are 6 months and older vaccinated.
- Keep your children away from people who are sick.
- Keep children's hands clean and away from their faces.
- Make sure children get plenty of sleep and drink lots of fluids.
- Keep your children home from school when they are sick with a fever.
Call Your Pediatrician When Your Child:
- Has a high fever. For babies under 3 months, call for temperature 100.4 and higher.
- Has a fever accompanied by a severe headache.
- Is a baby 3 months or younger.
- Has breathing difficulties or chest pains.
- Complains of an earache or continues to pull on an ear.
- Seems unusually cranky and cannot be consoled.
- Lack of appetite
- Is vomiting and unable to keep down fluids.
- Exhibits consistent coughing that lasts more than a few days.
- Improves after a cold, and then his health starts to decline again.
- Makes a "whooping" sound after coughing.
- Has a skin rash.
- Has any symptoms that last longer than seven days.