Upper respiratory infections (URIs) are very common in children due to the contagious nature of the viruses that cause them. It is normal for a child to have 6 to 10 colds in a year. Symptoms include a cough, runny nose and sometimes fevers. They are caused by viruses, and typically last between 7 and 10 days.
Unfortunately, there is little that can be done for the common cold except to just wait it out. Have your child drink plenty of fluids and consider using a humidifier, nasal saline drops or sprays, and/ or a bulb suction to help get the phlegm out of a baby or young child’s nose.
If your child is coughing a lot, you may want to also look at our “Cough” section for more detailed information on cough specifically.
Tylenol or Ibuprofen can help relieve discomfort from fevers or a sore throat. Please reference our dosing chart for how much of each medication to give your child based on his or her weight. Since URIs are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only kill bacteria, antibiotics do not help.
Children with colds can still attend school unless they have a fever (greater than 100.4F) or they just aren’t feeling well enough to participate. URIs can be associated with wheezing or ear infections, or may even result in a sinus infection later on. If you suspect any of these conditions, or if a fever is persisting more than 4 days, please come in and see us!
