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When an adult gets a cold, the usual medicine is bed rest, some cough drops, and a bowl of chicken soup. With sicknesses like viruses, you simply have to wait for the cold to go away and spend some time laying low and resting while your body fights the illness.
Things are a little different with kids, however, and it’s important to understand how to treat a cold when it’s a child who has caught the illness rather than an adult. With cold season in full swing, here are a few things to remember about kids, family medicine, the sniffles, and seasonal colds.
Do You Have Toddler Under Four-Years-Old?
When a child younger than the age of four gets a cold, over-the-counter remedies aren’t usually appropriate. It’s usually best to get in touch with your family practice center to ask about the best course of action.
There are some manufacturers, like Tylenol, who make cold medication for children, but it’s important to speak with your doctor before administering any medication to your young one.
Do You Have a Child Over Four-Years-Old?
Over-the-counter medications for colds that are labeled as the right dosage for children are safe for kids when they reach four-years-old. It’s always a good idea to take a look at the instructions for the medication, even if you’ve used it many times in the past.
It’s important that children only consume medication meant for children, and that adult dosages are kept out of reach.
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Tips for Getting Over the Cold Quickly
An illness that’s due to an infection requires antibiotics, and the physician at your family practice clinic can help you determine whether your child is suffering from an infection or a virus. If your child has the latter, the only remedy will be to wait until the cold has run its course.
However, there are many important steps to take that can reduce the amount of time the child is sick, as well as ensure his or her comfort during the illness.
Sleep is the Best Medicine. Getting enough rest is the most important part of getting over a cold, and it’s sage advice for children and adults alike. If your child has a cough and is having trouble with phlegm, you may want to think about running a humidifier in his or her room. Remember to clean the humidifier each day to eliminate germs in the space.
Make Sure Water is Always Nearby. A child with a stuffy nose may breathe through his or her mouth and get a scratchy throat, even if he or she doesn’t actually have a sore throat as part of the affliction. Water helps keep the throat comfortable, and it’s also essential for keeping the child hydrated while he or she is sick.
Keep the Tissues Handy. All parents of young children have experience wiping a child’s snotty nose, and it’s important to keep the nose as clear as possible during a cold. Children who don’t understand how to blow into a tissue may have their nasal passages cleared with a saline solution, and the doctor at your medical center can demonstrate the method.
Try an Extra, Warm Bath. Your child might not get as dirty if they’re sitting in bed with a cold instead of playing outside in the dirt, but an extra bath can help relax the child and reduce the impact of a fever. A bath may also help the child focus on something other than his or her cold, which can offer a temporary respite from pain and tenderness.
Keep in Touch with Your Austin Medical Center
Your doctor at Pro-Care Medical Center is your greatest ally when you have questions about your child’s cold, and he or she can let you know what to expect with your child’s illness. It’s beneficial to know whether your child has an infection that requires an antibiotic or whether it’s a virus that requires lots of rest. Get in touch with Pro-Care Medical Center if you’re worried about your child’s cold.
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