General Colds Information

The common cold is a very frequent occurrence in children. Symptoms of the common cold can include cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, fever, sore throat and mild lethargy. These symptoms are usually mild and self-limiting. The best treatment is usually supportive care consisting of plenty of fluids, humidifying the air, saline nose drops and suctioning the nose in infants and very young children. If your child appears more sick, is not interested in nursing or taking fluids, has a fever of 102° or more or the symptoms last longer than 5-7 days you should call for an appointment. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the use of most OTC cold medications in children under 6 years of age. There is no role for antibiotics in the treatment of the common cold.