CHILDREN’S HEALTH: COMMON COLD
A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract that is caused by a virus. The infection causes discomfort of the throat, nose, and sinuses. A cold sometimes also affects the eyes (connected to the nose by the tear ducts); the ears (connected to the nose by the Eustachian tubes); and the lymph nodes of the neck (connected to the nose by lymph channels). A cold is transmitted from person to person through the air or by droplets on the hands or on objects (toys, drinking glasses, handkerchiefs). Symptoms may develop within two to seven days after being exposed to a cold virus. People of all ages are subject to catching colds, but younger children and infants are particularly at risk from colds.
Many fruitless years were spent trying to develop a vaccine against the cold germ. Then it was discovered that there is not just one cold germ. Colds are actually caused by many different viruses, and all respiratory viruses can cause common colds. An attack by any of the more than 185 viruses makes a person immune to only that virus and none of the others. Often this immunity lasts only for a short time.
Many cold viruses can cause complications such as croup, laryngitis, bronchitis, viral pneumonia, and encephalitis. All cold viruses can make a child more susceptible to additional bacterial infections – ear infections, sinus infections, lymph infections, or bacterial pneumonia. No child’s cold should be taken lightly.
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of a cold are nasal congestion, sneezing, clear nasal discharge, scratchy sore throat, and fever up to 39.4°C. In general, the younger the child, the higher the fever. Symptoms may also include reddened, watery eyes; dry cough; mild swelling and tenderness of the lymph nodes in the neck; and mild pain in the ears.
It is often difficult to tell a cold from other illnesses that have similar symptoms. Usually it is assumed to be a cold if the familiar cold symptoms occur but symptoms of other illnesses do not. Another clue is that a cold lasts only three to ten days.
Home care
Increase room humidity with a vaporizer or humidifier. Have your child drink a lot of liquids. Isolate the child from others, particularly from infants and the elderly. Bed rest is not required, but the child should avoid strenuous physical activities while fever is present. Give aspirin or paracetamol for fever or pain. Use nose drops or oral decongestants and a nasal aspirator to relieve nasal stuffiness and discharge. Use cough medicines for easing a severe cough. Remember, however, that overuse of any of these medications can cause more harm than good. Chest rubs and vitamin Ñ treatments have not proven to be helpful. Your child should eat only what he or she is able to eat.
Precautions
• The following symptoms do not usually occur with a common cold and may be signs of another illness: fever lasting more than two to three days; pus-like discharge from the eyes, nose, or ears; large, red, tender neck glands; breathing difficulties; chest pain; severe headache; stiff neck; vomiting; shaking chills; prostration (collapse). If any of these symptoms occur, call your doctor.
• Some viruses that cause common colds stay in the body for one to two weeks, so the child remains contagious for the entire time of the cold.
• Infants should not be exposed to anyone with a cold, even a mild cold. Infants are not protected against the common cold by the mother’s antibodies; young infants can become seriously ill from these viruses.
Medical treatment
Your doctor will perform a physical examination to check for signs of other illnesses and for signs of complications. The doctor sometimes will order a blood count and throat culture. Otherwise, the doctor’s treatment is the same as home care.
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