Almost every baby has experienced a cold, and it is the most common reason for parents to bring their babies to the clinic. Do I need to see a doctor after a cold? Do I need to take medicine and antibiotics after a cold? How can colds be prevented and treated? What questions do parents have about colds? Pediatricians say – write to those parents who are being troubled by the “baby cold”.
1.What is a cold?
A cold is an acute, self-limiting illness caused by a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Symptoms include varying degrees of sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, cough, fever, headache and malaise. It is also known as acute upper respiratory tract infection and is the most common illness in children.
2.What are the causes of colds?
Colds are caused by viral infections, the most common of which are rhinoviruses, because there are too many viruses in the environment, which is why babies often get colds. The viruses that cause colds are widespread in nature and even on the skin and mucous membrane surfaces of the human body; various causes that lead to a decrease in the systemic or respiratory tract local defense function, such as cold, sudden climate change, fatigue, etc. can make the viruses that are already present in the upper respiratory tract or invaded from outside multiply rapidly, thus inducing colds.
3.How do babies get infected?
Colds can be spread through person-to-person contact, or caused by the baby’s exposure to viruses in the environment, and are most contagious in the second to fourth days of a cold.
Direct contact – The virus can be found on the hands of a patient with a cold. If the baby has been in contact with a patient with a cold, the baby can touch the eyes, nose and mouth again;
Contact with viruses left on the surface of objects – Some viruses can survive for up to 1 day on the surface of tables, doorknobs, and toys. When the baby touches these objects;
Inhalation of virus – coughing or sneezing of a cold patient can expel the virus into the air when the baby inhales.
4.Why is baby easy to catch a cold?
Due to the anatomical characteristics of the baby’s upper respiratory tract, the baby’s immunity is also relatively low, the baby’s adaptation to the environment and cold air is also poor, the baby loves to move and is easily exposed to outside sources of infection, and sometimes parents have not paid attention to the baby’s diligent hand washing.
5.What are the symptoms of cold?
Sneezing, sniffling, runny nose, cough, fever, sore throat, headache, weakness, low appetite, some babies may vomit and have abdominal pain.
6.When do I need to see a doctor after a cold?
Consider seeing a doctor if your baby has the following symptoms.
A baby younger than 3 months of age who does not eat or drink for a long period of time.
Changes in behavior, such as irritability, irritability or low responsiveness.
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.
Fever that persists after 3 days and a temperature that remains above 38.5°C.
A stuffy or runny nose that has not resolved after 14 days.
Redness and discharge from the eyes.
Having symptoms of ear infection (ear pain, scratching the ear, running water from the ear, etc.).
7.What can parents do after a baby has a cold?
Maintaining proper environmental humidity is very necessary for babies with respiratory tract infections, and the appropriate humidity is 50% to 60%;
Replenish sufficient water, which can reduce respiratory discomfort and facilitate the discharge of phlegm.
Try “steam bath” (stay with your baby in a bathroom full of water mist for 10-15 minutes), and make use of a lady’s “face steamer”.
8.How to treat after a cold?
Because the cold is a self-limiting disease caused by viral infection, it does not require special treatment itself, but mainly anticipatory therapy and symptomatic treatment.
Expectant therapy: The symptoms of cold are serious in the first 3-5 days, and gradually improve after 5 days, but the cough or runny nose will last for 10 days or more to completely improve.
Symptomatic treatment.
(1) Fever – reduce the fever with Merlin or Tylenol.
(2) Nasal congestion and runny nose – Large babies can have nasal sprays to relieve the symptoms of congestion or runny nose, while small babies can first have saline drops and then use suction balls to suck out the runny nose;
(3) Cough – Most of them don’t need cough suppressants, but they can apply phlegm remedies.
9.How to prevent colds?
Washing hands frequently is the most effective way to prevent colds, because viruses are everywhere and babies may come into contact with viruses at any time, so teach them how to wash their hands properly;
Avoid taking your baby to places where there are too many people;
Although parents try to avoid their babies’ contact with cold patients, it is difficult to avoid colds completely because viruses are everywhere.
10.Can colds have complications?
Although colds are mostly not serious, complications can occur.
Otitis media: high fever (more than three days), ear pain, irritability and ear scratching.
Sinusitis: runny nose for more than ten days with no sign of improvement and thick yellow-green nasal discharge accompanied by cough, severe nasal congestion, headache, fever.
Triggered asthma or aggravation of asthma.
Bronchitis and pneumonia: High fever that does not go away and increased cough, shortness of breath, loss of appetite.
11, parents often ask questions about the cold answers.
Question 1: Why does my baby always catch a cold? Is it because the baby has a poor constitution?
In the clinic, parents often tell me that their babies basically catch a cold once every 2-3 months and ask me if they have a poor constitution and need some tests.
In fact, it is normal for children from 6 months old to 6 years old to have 6-8 colds in a year, i.e. once every 2-3 months (even once a month during the susceptible season such as winter), because the baby’s environment may be exposed to viruses at any time, and the baby is susceptible. So it is not caused by the baby’s poor constitution, and there is usually no need to do any examination.
Question 2: Why do babies rarely catch a cold at home but always catch a cold after going to kindergarten?
In the clinic, parents often tell me that their babies seldom catch a cold at home, but they always catch a cold after going to kindergarten, and they are afraid to send them to kindergarten.
In fact, from the time your baby goes to kindergarten, your baby enters a collective environment, because babies will come into contact with each other, and any one of them may catch a cold to the other babies. In addition, babies do not adapt to the kindergarten environment at the beginning, nervousness, drinking less water and other reasons cause babies to repeatedly catch colds.
Question 3: Can I take cold medicine for my baby’s cold?
In the clinic, I meet parents who tell me that their baby has a cold and ask me if they can give them cold medicine.
In fact, colds are caused by viral infections and most of them will heal on their own, so try not to give over-the-counter cold medicines and cough suppressants to babies under 2 years old, as they can have some side effects. In addition, coughing is a self-protection mechanism for babies to clear respiratory secretions, so there is no need to deliberately suppress it. The U.S. FDA states that cold medicine should not be given to babies under 6 years old, and even if they are over 6 years old, it should be used sparingly.
Question 4: Do I need a cough medicine for a cough?
In the clinic, I encounter parents who tell me that their baby has a bad cough and ask if I can give them cough medicine.
In fact, coughing is a protective mechanism of the organism, and coughing can clear the airway of clothes. Infants and children have a weak cough reflex, and if they take cough medicine to inhibit the cough reflex, the phlegm in the respiratory tract will be less likely to be expelled. Therefore, it is generally not recommended to give cough suppressants to babies, especially those under 6 years old. However, you can take some phlegm-relieving medicine.
Question 5: Can a cough become pneumonia?
Many babies develop a cough, sometimes a very strong cough, and many parents worry that it will turn into pneumonia.
In fact, coughing itself will not turn into pneumonia, but pneumonia can cause coughing, and coughing is just a manifestation of pneumonia. Pneumonia is mainly an infection of the lungs caused by viruses or bacteria.
Question 6: Should I take antibiotics for my baby’s cold?
In the clinic, I will meet some parents who tell me that their baby has a very serious cold and ask me if they should give antibiotics to their baby?
In fact, colds are caused by viral infections and there is no need to take antibiotics. Besides, taking antibiotics can cause allergies and later adverse reactions such as drug resistance in babies.
Question 7: Can a cold cause serious consequences to my baby?
In the clinic, I meet parents who tell me that their baby has a cold and they are very nervous about the adverse effects on their baby.
In fact, most colds can heal on their own and usually do not induce worse diseases, so parents do not need to be too nervous.
However, it is important to note that colds can also have some complications, such as otitis media, bronchitis, pneumonia, etc., so it is also important to take your baby to the doctor when necessary, depending on your baby’s specific situation.
Question 8: How can I prevent my baby from being infected when someone in my family has a cold?
In the clinic, parents often tell me that someone in their family has a cold, how can I prevent my baby from being infected?
In fact, one of the most important ways is to wash your hands regularly, stay away from your baby when sneezing or coughing, and preferably cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and wipe your nose with a tissue.
Question 9: Is a stuffy nose for babies a cold?
There are often mothers in the clinic who say they don’t take their babies out either, but why do they always have a stuffy nose? Is it a cold?
In fact, small babies often have nasal congestion, sometimes the doctor may diagnose the baby as having a cold or rhinitis, in fact, small babies’ nasal congestion is not caused by a cold, the reason is because the mother in the process of pregnancy will take the initiative to give the baby part of the antibodies, called stored antibodies, which have a protective effect on small babies, so small babies are not easy to catch a cold, as to why small babies have nasal congestion, sometimes nasal congestion The reason is that the nasal mucosa of small babies is sensitive to cold air and allergic substances, plus the fact that babies under 2 months old are not very coordinated to breathe through their mouths, so nasal congestion is more serious. Another baby’s nasal congestion may also be related to genetics, such as the parents when they were small nasal congestion, the baby will be more likely to nasal congestion.
Parents in good weather, try to go out to the baby to make the baby adapt to the outside environment; if the baby’s living environment is dry, it is recommended to use a humidifier at home, such as baby Bao nasal secretions or boogers, available saline drops nose, and then use a nasal aspirator to help the baby suck out. However, there is no need to be nervous that the symptoms of nasal congestion in babies are mostly relieved by themselves in about 1 week.
Question 10: Is it pneumonia if my baby coughs up sputum?
Many mothers ask why their babies are coughing at 1 to 2 months old, but why do they make a sibilant sound in their throats? Is it because the baby has phlegm? Does the baby have pneumonia?
In fact, sometimes when you hold your baby, you will feel a “sibilant” sound in your baby’s chest, sometimes you will feel a little vibration, and at night or at dawn, some babies will cough, sometimes even cough and spit out all the milk at the same time. When parents encounter such a situation, they are often very nervous about whether their little one has pneumonia. In fact, this kind of phlegm may be caused by the “accumulation of phlegm”, which is a problem of the baby’s constitution, and the baby may belong to an individual with strong airway secretion, similar to some babies who sweat a lot. Sometimes, as the baby breathes, the sound of air flow through the secretions is also the phlegm sound that parents hear. If the baby is in good spirits, eating milk normally, gaining weight regularly, without fever and other discomforts, parents need not be nervous because it is probably a normal “phlegm accumulation” phenomenon.
Parents should not treat “phlegm accumulation” as a baby’s illness and always let the baby stay at home and not let the baby go out. In good weather, when the haze is not serious, try to take the baby out to fresh air as much as possible, which is also a kind of exercise for the baby and can exercise the baby’s airway. Of course, if your baby has a fever, or is not in good spirits, or is not eating milk well, or if you think your baby has an abnormality, you should take your baby to a professional pediatrician.