What Causes Colds?

Most colds are caused by viruses. Sometimes a cold may be so mild, you don't even know you have one. Other times, infection from a cold virus will cause a sore throat, stuffy nose, fever, or just the miseries. Although some people seem to get more colds than others, all of us will have colds from time to time.

How Many Colds Should You Have?

Many parents worry that their children have too many colds. Most average, healthy children have between six and nine colds each year. Some of these colds will be very short and mild. Others may last a week or longer. Childhood colds are nature's way of protecting them against having colds later in life. Children who have colds a lot usually do not have anything serious wrong with them.

What is The Home Treatment For Colds?

Nothing will make a cold go away faster. It just needs to run its course. A cold cannot be cured with prescription medicine such as penicillin. But there are some things you can do to feel better.

Follow this home treatment for colds:

For fever, muscle aches, and headaches, take aspirin or Tylenol® (Do not give aspirin to babies, children, or teenagers unless recommended by your doctor.)
Drink a lot of liquids such as water, juice, tea, and soup. Liquids help keep mucous loose and help prevent other infections like earache and pneumonia.
Rest and relax.
Use a vaporizer or humidifier to help keep the nose and throat moist.
For croupy coughs or difficult breathing, children or adults can take a hot shower or bath. For a baby, take him/her into the bathroom, turn on the shower and shut the door until the room is steamy.
Salt water nose drops can be used with babies and children. You can fix your own or buy them at the drugstore. If you fix your own, follow these directions:

1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 cup warm water
Pour water and salt into a clean clear bottle. Put a label on the bottle that says "Salt Water".
Make a new bottle each day, if needed.

Using Salt Water Nose Drops

Use a bulb syringe to clear out the nose.
Put the baby or child on his back. Use an eyedropper and put two to three drops of salt water into each side of the nose, wait five minutes.
Use the bulb syringe to clear out the drainage from the nose. This can be repeated three to four times a day. It is good to use nose drops a half an hour before eating and a half an hour before bedtime.
Put the baby on his stomach when sleeping to help drain the nose.

Should Children Go To School With A Cold?

This depends on how they feel. If a child feels well enough to be up and about, he or she should be allowed to go to school. However, if a child is coughing a lot or needs bedrest, it is better to keep him or her at home. Colds are usually most contagious a day or two before the symptoms show up. So, keeping you child home will not prevent other children at school from being exposed. They probably have already been exposed to the virus.

When Should You Call The Doctor?

Children - Call the doctor right away if your child:

    is very fussy or sleepy (hard to wake up).
    has an earache or pulls at his or her ears.
    breathes very fast.
    has high fever (see section on fever).

Make an appointment to see your doctor if your child:

    has a sore throat.
    coughs excessively
    does not get better after seven days.

Adults - Call the doctor for an appointment if you:

    are not better after two weeks.
    have a sore throat.
    have mucous which is yellow, green, or gray.

A PERSON WHO HAS POOR HEALTH SHOULD NOT
WAIT AS LONG TO CALL THE DOCTOR ABOUT A COLD

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