According to the Mayo Clinic, children generally fall ill with a cold six to ten times per year. Preschool children are at the greatest risk. Fall and winter mean more time spent inside and children back to school, conditions that lend themselves to a spike in the numbers of colds. The common cold, by definition, is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, i.e. the nose and throat. Symptoms vary, as more than 100 distinct viruses can be to blame.
Signs and Symptoms of a Cold
The common signs and symptoms of a cold include the following:
- runny or stuffy nose
- itchy or sore throat
- cough
- congestion
- slight body aches or a mild headache
- sneezing
- watery eyes
- low-grade fever
- mild fatigue
Keep The Child Home for Fever Higher than 100.4
If no fever is present and your child seems to feel fairly healthy other than his or her cold symptoms, it is fine to send him or her to school, say the experts at WebMD. If your child has a fever higher than 100.4 degrees, keep him or her home. Wait 24 hours after the fever disappears before returning your child to school to avoid spreading the virus to healthy classmates.
Other Symptoms That Should Keep Your Child Out of School
Does your child have a rash, or nausea and vomiting, pink eye, or a severe cough? Then keep your child home and seek the care of the pediatrician.
Home Remedies for a Child with the Common Cold
Home care for the common cold should include drinking plenty of fluids, getting adequate rest, using a cool-mist humidifier to moisten the air in the child's room, gargling with warm saltwater to soothe a sore or scratchy throat, and using saline nasal drops to soothe congestion. Feeding chicken soup is also recommended, by grandmothers everywhere and the Mayo Clinic.
When to Seek a Doctor's Care for the Child with Cold Symptoms
The care of a doctor is generally unnecessary for a common cold, but there are several complications that can occur for which medical treatment should be sought:
- fever of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher in children age two or older
- fever of 102 F (38.9 C) or higher in children ages six weeks to two years
- fever of 100 F (37.8 C) in newborns up to six weeks
- signs of dehydration, such as urinating less often than usual
- not drinking adequate fluids
- fever that lasts more than three days
- vomiting or abdominal pain
- unusual sleepiness
- severe headache
- stiff neck
- difficulty breathing
- persistent crying
- ear pain
- persistent cough
Additionally, if common cold symptoms persist in your child longer than ten days, seek medical attention.
Dana Petersen Murphy - My interests have always been quite varied. In my college days I was known to take courses in subjects ranging from Israeli Fiction to Art ...
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