Cough and cold in babies/toddlers – Age-wise treatment and medicines. Fever management, when to seek help

Understanding cough and cold in babies

A child should expect to get at least eight colds a year.This is due to the fact that there are countless distinct cold viruses, and as young children have never had any of them before, they lack immunity to any of them.They develop immunity over time and experience fewer colds.While most colds subside in 5 to 7 days, in young children they might last up to 2 weeks.

The following ideas will help your child's symptoms feel better:

• Make sure your kid gets enough fluids.
• Saline nasal drops might help unclog blocked nasal passages and release hardened mucus.
• Talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health visitor about them.
• Children's paracetamol or ibuprofen should be used if your child has a high temperature, pain, or discomfort.
• Ibuprofen may not be suitable for use in children with asthma, therefore consult a doctor, pharmacist, or health visitor before using it. Continually adhere to the directions on the packaging.
• To prevent the spread of the cold, remind your entire family to frequently wash their hands.     

Age-wise treatment for cough and cold

Young children might suffer substantial harm from taking oral over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medications. The hazards of using these medications outweigh any benefit they may have in easing cold symptoms.

• Under the age of four, newborns and young children should not take over-the-counter cough and cold medications.
• Cough medicine should only be used in children between the ages of 4 and 6 if prescribed by a physician.
• After the age of six, using cough medications is safe.

Just be sure to adhere to the dosage recommendations on the packaging. Fortunately, treating coughs and colds in young children without using these medications is simple.     

Medicines for cough and cold in babies

Various over-the-counter (OTC) coughs and cold medications are marketed. Children under the age of two should never be given over-the-counter (OTC) cough or cold drugs, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, the majority of cough and cold medications advise against giving them to children under the age of 4.According to the FDA, children under the age of two should not take over-the-counter cold medicines.Children under the age of four should not use any over-the-counter cold medicines.

According to American College of Chest Physicians recommendations, children under the age of 15 should not take cold and cough drugs. They advise that an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Advil/Motrin, etc.) or naproxen (Aleve) may help with a cough for kids under the age of 15 years old. Postnasal drip and cough suppression may benefit from the use of a decongestant.     

Fever management in babies and toddlers

A little fever can accompany some coughs and colds. Take the following actions if your infant or young child has a fever:

• Infants younger than one month: Call your pediatrician.
• A fever is abnormal in babies younger than three months: Ask your doctor for advice.
• For infants aged 3 to 6 months, administer acetaminophen as needed, every 4 to 6 hours. Use the dropper that comes with the drug, not a regular spoon, and strictly adhere to the dose instructions.
• Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen every 4 to 6 hours to infants and toddlers aged 6 months and older, or every 6 to 8 hours to toddlers. Don't administer both medications at once.     

When to seek medical help for cough and cold

• breathing issues
• The whistling or purring sound of wheezing occurs.
• difficulty swallowing and recent beginning of drooling
• High-risk child (such as one who has a persistent lung condition)
• immunologically compromised. Examples include HIV, cancer, organ transplantation, sickle cell illness, and taking oral steroids.
• 104° F (40° C) or higher fever
• Baby with a fever who is under 12 weeks old.

WARNING: Before taking your infant to the doctor, DO NOT give him any fever medication.Your kid seems or acts quite ill.You feel the issue is urgent and that your child needs to be seen.     

Conclusion: Taking care of your baby’s health

Treatment for a cold frequently calls for action to lessen symptoms and maintain your baby's comfort.This can entail giving them fluid support, running a humidifier, or sucking nasal mucus to get rid of a stuffy nose.Fever reducers and cold remedies are examples of over-the-counter medicines that shouldn't be taken unless prescribed by a physician.Taking care of a baby's cold at homeMaking a newborn feel at ease is the primary goal of home cold treatment.Your baby's immunity may improve if you breastfeed them. Supplementing breast milk with formula in even tiny amounts can be beneficial.