Beating Kids' Colds

Posted on September 16, 2013 by

Did you know that on average, young children get colds about six to eight times in a year? This number could increase or decrease, depending on several factors such as the time of the year, age of the child, gender, and attendance at child care facilities, among other things. To give you a better idea how to combat your child's colds, here are some of the things you know about the infection, its symptoms, and how to prevent it in the first place.

Common cold symptoms

The typical symptoms of the common cold are the following:

  • Runny and congested nose
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Sneezing

Colds sometimes come with fatigue, headache, muscle ache, and loss of appetite. Fever, on the other hand, is a common symptom among babies and young children. Colds normally persist for about less than a week.

Causes

The common cold is an infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that has several causes. These include the following:

  • Virus
    While there are over 200 different types of viruses that are said to cause the common cold, the three most common ones include rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, and the human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The most common of these three is the rhinovirus, which causes about 30 to 80 per cent of all cases of colds; coronaviruses and influenza viruses trigger about 10 to 15 per cent of colds; while RSV makes up around 10 per cent of cases.

  • Weather
    The weather plays a role in contracting the common cold, although it's not fully established that people catch the illness because of their exposure to rain or cold weather. Other possible reasons include diminished immune response, changes to our respiratory system, or simply because people spend more time indoors near a person with a cold.

  • Transmission
    Cold viruses can enter your body through transmission. It can spread through the air when someone sneezes, coughs, or talks. The virus can also spread by hand-to-hand contact with a person who has a cold by touching the same infected object (e.g. doorknobs, utensils, keyboards, light switches). If you touch your nose, eyes, or mouth afterwards, then you get the virus. Unfortunately, the odds of you touching your face are very high since we do it unconsciously about once every three minutes.

Complications in children

When adults or children get the common cold, there's usually no need to consult a doctor because the symptoms (see above) are generally manageable. However, complications can sometimes occur, especially in kids under the age of five. These include the following:

  • Sinus infection (sinusitis)
    Sinusitis is the inflammation of the para-nasal sinuses, a group of air-filled spaces around the nasal cavity. The condition is characterised as having pain or dull, aching pressure over the person's affected sinuses, although this may worsen when the person reclines or leans down.

  • Middle ear infection (otitis media)
    The official medical term for middle ear infection is otitis media, which is a common condition among children. the infection is said to develop in roughly 20 per cent of children below five years of age with a cold. The main symptom in otitis media is ear pain, although other signs could also manifest, including high fever, lethargy, vomiting, and hearing loss.

    The good news: around 80 per cent of middle ear infections work themselves out (typically in three days) without having to resort to treatment. Further treatment will be necessary only if the child has had middle ear infections before.

  • Chest infection
    If a child's immune system weakens, he or she may end up with a chest infection. There are generally two types: bronchitis is the inflammation of mucous membranes in the bronchial tubes, while pneumonia is a more serious lung inflammation caused by viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms of chest infection include disorientation or confusion, high fever, a sharp pain in the chest, and coughing up blood in the phlegm.

How to beat the common cold

Since the common cold is caused by a virus, it doesn't respond to antibiotics. The best way to treat the cold is by providing relief to its symptoms and attempting to shorten its duration. Here are some effective ways how:

  • Stay hydrated
    When your child has a cold, he or she loses a lot of fluids because of mucous build-up and fever. This could lead to dehydration and delay one's recovery. To counteract this, have him or her drink plenty of fluids.

  • Get lots of rest
    The body needs to heal and recover from the ordeal brought about by the common cold by getting lots of bed rest. When you have a cold, turn off the alarm clock while your child is recuperating and try to aim for 12 hours of sleep.

  • Gargle with warm water and salt
    If your child has a bit of sore throat, teach him or her how to gargle. Rinsing the throat with warm water and salt will relieve the soreness.

  • Eat chicken soup
    There is actually scientific evidence that chicken soup can help ease cold symptoms, fight infection, and reduce inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

  • Over-the-counter medicines
    Non-prescription drugs like paracetamol or ibuprofen, in their appropriate doses, can help treat your child's symptoms. Just remember that children under 15 shouldn't be given aspirin.

Prevention

Since the common cold still has no definitive cure, it would be much better to avoid infections altogether. Here are several suggestions on how you can reduce the chances of you or your child getting a cold:

  • Wash your hands frequently
    Frequent washing can get rid of viruses that you literally got your hands on. This minimises the risk of contracting a cold and spreading it around your house and to your children. Make sure you teach the importance of hand washing to your children as well.

  • Cough into your elbow
    Another measure to minimise transmitting viruses between you and your child is to cough into your elbow instead of your hand when you don't have a tissue.

  • Keep surfaces clean
    Don't limit the washing to your hands. Clean surfaces like table tops, countertops, doorknobs, and many other places that you and your kids frequently touch.

  • Use disposable utensils and cups
    If someone in your household has a cold, use disposable cups and utensils to avoid spreading the virus.

  • Don't touching your face
    It sounds simple enough: try to remember to not touch your face. Be particularly conscious about not touching your mouth, eyes, and mouth.

  • Avoid people with colds
    As much as possible, avoid going near people with colds for long periods of time.

  • Choose your child care centre carefully
    Be particular when looking for a centre for your child. It has to be well-sanitised and shouldn't allow sick children in the centre to avoid exposing them to others.

  • Live a healthy lifestyle
    Living healthy can help you fight colds. Eating a balanced diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep are some of the ways to boost your immunity so that your body can ward off viruses.

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