A child who develops a fever, cough, and rapid breathing after the first three days of cold symptoms may have bacterial pneumonia. This is also why it is really important that your child is up-to-date with his vaccinations. Certain immunizations can protect him from complications that come with the cold, such as invasive pneumococcal disease.
What parents should not be too concerned about is the color of the cold mucus. People have this belief that if the mucus is clear, then it’s a mild kind of cold, but once it turns green, then it’s a bacterial infection and we should start giving antibiotics already. The fact is, the change in color is caused by the increase in the number of white blood cells in the nose, which are fighting the infection.
Preventive Tips
The best way to protect your child from the virus is to teach him to frequently and properly wash his hands. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are also helpful.
- Teach your child to avoid touching his eyes, nose, and mouth at least until he has washed his hands.
- Do not use the utensils or towels of a sick person.
- Restricting activity helps by ensuring that the child has adequate rest, which is always helpful for any illness. Keeping the child home will also help prevent the spread of viruses.
- Avoid contact with individuals with colds.
- Vaporizers or humidifiers produce steam, which can help ease the discomfort of a congested nose.
- You may wish to avoid food or drink that can irritate the throat (excessively hot or cold drinks; highly flavored foods) to avoid discomfort.
- Drink lots of fluids, which can help relieve nasal congestion, soothe the throat and help in expectorating phlegm.
- Nasal irrigation, or flushing of a warm saline solution through the nostrils, can help ease nasal blockages as well.
What parents should not do, on the other hand, is to give cold medicines without consulting a doctor first. Oral decongestants act by shrinking engorged blood vessels in the nasal and sinus passages. However, they are associated with stimulant side effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and insomnia.
Neither are antibiotics necessary, unless a doctor has diagnosed the presence of a bacterial infection. The common cold can be treated with any of the home remedies mentioned in one fo my articles, so parents should not be disappointed if their doctor does not prescribe any medicines.
In addition, some home remedies for colds contain camphor. Some side effects that have been noted in patients include nausea and vomiting, lethargy, and even seizures.
Reference:
http://familydoctor.org/
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