Colds and coughs in children

What causes colds and coughs and what are the symptoms?
Most colds and coughs are caused by viruses. Many different viruses can infect the nose and throat. They are passed on by coughing and sneezing the virus into the air. An average primary school child has 6 to 8 coughs or colds per year. Sometimes several coughs or colds occur one after the other. A child who lives with smokers has an increased risk of developing colds and coughs.

• The common symptoms are a cough and a runny nose. The cough is often worse at night. Coughing does not damage the lungs. A coughing child will not choke or stop breathing
  
• In addition, a child may have: a raised temperature (fever), a sore throat, headache, tiredness, and be off their food. Sometimes children vomit after a bout of coughing
  
• A build up of mucus behind the eardrums may cause dulled hearing or mild earache
  

What are the treatments for coughs and colds?
There is no magic cure! The symptoms tend to be worse in the first 2 to 3 days, and then usually ease gradually over the next few days. An irritating cough may linger for up to 2 to 4 weeks after other symptoms have gone. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, so are of no use for common coughs and colds. Treatment aims to ease symptoms. The most useful treatments are:

• Give the child plenty to drink.
  
• Give paracetamol (Calpol, Disprol, Tixymol, etc) to ease aches and pains, headaches, and fever. Ibuprofen is an alternative
  

You can buy various other cold remedies and cough mixtures. There is little evidence that they do much good, but some people find them useful. Note: they often contain several ingredients. Some may make children sleepy (which may be useful at bedtime). Some contain a decongestant which may help to ease a bunged up nose. Some contain paracetamol, so be careful not to give more than the maximum dose of paracetamol if you are already giving the child paracetamol.

Another popular treatment for a bunged-up nose in a baby is to put a few drops of saline (salt water) into the nose just before feeds. Some people feel that this helps to clear the nose to make feeding easier. There is little scientific evidence as to how well this works, but it may be worth a try if feeding is difficult. You can buy saline drops from pharmacies.

What other symptoms should I be aware of?
Most coughs and colds get better without complications. Sometimes a more serious secondary bacterial infection develops from an initial virus infection. For example, an ear infection, pneumonia, etc. Symptoms to look out for include: wheeziness, persistent earache, fast breathing, difficulty breathing, persistent high temperatures, drowsiness, chest pains. See a doctor if any symptoms develop that you are concerned about. Doctors are skilled at checking children over to rule out serious illness. They may not be able to prescribe anything more effective for a common cough or cold, but a check-over can be reassuring.

Source: Adapted with permission from a © document supplied by EMIS and PIP