It is normal for infants to have a cough and cold  as much as 8 times a year. This is because there are several different  cough and cold viruses which infants don’t have immunity to because they have never had it before. However, gradually they build up immunity and get  less cough and cold. Cough and cold get better within 5 to 7 days.
 

 

What are some of the causes of a child’s cough and cold in children ?

Some of the possible causes of cough and cold  in infants include :

• croup, which is a distinctive barking sound and often gets worse at night
• respiratory syncytial virus RSV, which is similar to cold but causes worsening cough and difficulty breathing
• bronchitis
• pneumonia
• allergies
• asthma
• whooping cough
• sinusitis
• cystic fibrosis
• swallowing or inhaling an object

How can I ease my child’s symptoms  ?

You can help make your child more comfortable by doing the following :

• increase the amount of fluids you give your child
• you can use  pain reliever such as  acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve child of fever , pain and any discomfort.
• use a humidifier to help moisten the air and make breathing easier
• to loosen mucus and dried nasal secretion, you can use saline nasal drops. Clear the nose with bulb syringe.
• you can massage vapor rub into your child’s neck, chest and back
• elevate your child’s head while she sleeps to make breathing easier
• practice good personal hygiene such as washing of hands regularly with warm water and soap.

When should I contact my doctor ?

 
Contact your pediatrician if your child is experiencing these symptoms .

• your child is younger than 3 months and has a  fever of 100.4 or higher or if fever lasts more than 3 days
•  your child is having problems breathing or your child is wheezing
•  your baby is not feeding
• baby is sleeping excessively
• baby is irritable or cranky
• baby has a cold that doesn’t seem to get better after a week
• baby’s cough does not go within three days or gets worse and is accompanied by vomiting
• `Baby has chronic runny nose that does not get better

 
Other symptoms that  should warrant a call to the doctor include baby getting blue lips, swollen neck or sore throat.
 
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