Coughs and colds:
- Coughs and colds are a frequent worry for the parents of children in this age group. A few key points to remember are given below.
- Colds are Acute URTI [upper
respiratory tract infections] caused by a group of viruses.
- They are transmitted by air when an infected person coughs/sneezes, or by hand contact.
- Anyone in the family, who is ill, should avoid contact with the baby. Always wash your hands before handling the baby.
- Signs are cough, running nose, red eyes, discomfort [baby is irritable] and decreased appetite.
- Colds are most often self limiting- that is they are cured without a need for major medications.
- Babies less than 3 months old should be taken to the
pediatrician if they have a cold.
- In the case of older babies make sure you keep feeding the baby and ensure you give plenty of fluids.
- Babies who are breast fed are less likely to get colds, and if they do they usually recover faster.
- Babies who are exposed to cigarette smoke catch colds more easily and take longer to recover.
- It usually takes 5-10 days for a baby to recover from a cold.
- Keep wiping your baby's nose to clear mucus.
- Your baby may catch a lot of colds in the first year- up to ten times or more.
- If your baby has high fever/bad cough/greenish mucus/wheeze/ breathing difficulty / feeding poorly see your pediatrician immediately.