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Everyone has had colds. Sneezing, fever, runny nose, stuffy nose, cough and sore throat do not seem to be a big deal. Here is an expert guide to common colds, with all the answers you need – for you and your children, reviewed by pediatrician Dr. Eddie Cheung.
It is an upper respiratory tract infection and is usually harmless. Viruses, mostly commonly rhinoviruses, are the cause. Others include coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses.
Symptoms are more serious and last longer in kids than in adults. Young children may have 6-8 colds a year compared to just 2-4 times for adults. It takes about 7-10 days or up to 2 weeks in some cases to recover.
Your child can be infected all year round, but occurrence is more frequently observed in autumn and winter. Your doctor will make a diagnosis by reviewing the symptoms.
It is possible to get something more adverse after the common cold. Complications include acute middle ear infection, asthma exacerbation, pneumonia or bronchitis.
Common colds are contagious. Keep your child away from daycare centers and school until they recover. Wear a mask when going out.
Incubation period: Dependent on the virus involved, usually 3-4 days.
Infectious period: Infectious while symptoms are present, usually around 1 week.
Viruses that cause colds can be spread by
Your child may have a sore throat, a cough, a runny nose, clear, yellow or green nasal discharge (does not indicate bacterial infection), stuffy nose, sneezing and a mild fever.
Infants may also be fussy, have poor appetite, sleeping and feeding difficulties. Fever is predominant in young children but uncommon in older children. It is possible to develop a second cold when the first cold is recovering.
High fever, headache, severe body pain, extreme weakness and tiredness are not the general symptoms of colds. Instead, they may suggest the flu.
Visit a GP if you’re concerned about your child’s symptoms, if their symptoms are severe, unusual or worsen, or if your child:
Colds will clear up on their own without treatment. Antibiotics are not helpful because they do not kill viruses. Always consult your doctor or a pharmacist as misuse of medications can lead to serious consequences. Also, always carefully check the active ingredients in different medicines to avoid overdose.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, if your child is:
Fever and pain relief
Never give aspirin to children under 18 years old as it can cause Reye’s syndrome.
Nasal symptoms
OTC decongestants such as pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, oxymetazoline and xylometazoline are often used for those aged at least 12 years only.
Cough
Cough syrup contains different types of active ingredients, including expectorants (e.g. guaifenesin), decongestants and codeine. Children aged below 4 should not take it. FDA also states that codeine-containing medications are not suited for those under 18 years.
Having good personal hygiene
Keeping your home clean
Leading a healthy lifestyle
No vaccines available for prevention
Vaccines are available for influenza (flu) but not common colds.
Use of health supplements not supported by research
Zinc, vitamin C, vitamin D, garlic, ginseng, herbal products such as echinacea, and probiotics are not recommended as study results do not prove their benefits or demonstrate conclusive evidence of their roles in common cold prevention.
Most of the time, children can recover on their own without treatment. Medicines should only be taken under instructions by a doctor or a pharmacist to prevent misuse. You may consult a doctor if the symptoms are serious or worsen.
Visit a doctor if your child’s symptoms are severe or do not get better in days. Specific signs to look for include: fever, chills, chest pain, trouble in breeathing, ear infection and abnormal eye discharge, etc.
The common cold typically comes with symptoms in the upper respiratory tract, for example, sore throat, cough, runny nose, stuff nose, sneezing and fever.
Similar to adult colds, the common cold in children is an upper respiratory tract viral infection which in most cases, is harmless. However, it occurs more often and brings a higher risk of complications in children.
The common cold is always viral. Many types of viruses can cause colds, namely rhinoviruses, coronaviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses.
Dr. Eddie Cheung 張蔚賢醫生 is a specialist in paediatrics. He received his paediatric training in Queen Mary Hospital and post-fellow paediatric cardiology training in Grantham Hospital/ Queen Mary Hospital. He is a Fellow of the Hong Kong College of Cardiology, the Vice President of Hong Kong Society of Paediatric Cardiology and Consultant of Hong Kong Association of Cleft Lip and Palate. He is currently working as Director of Paediatric Centre of HK Medical Consultants and serves as Infection Control Officer at the Hong Kong Adventist Hospital.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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