Early Treatment For Kid Common Cold

Early Treatment For Kid Common Cold

In children with early colds, begin acetaminophen or ibuprofen in an appropriate dose on a regular schedule (every 4 hours) during the waking hours.

Other symptomatic treatments may be used if they appear to be helpful. These include:

• Topical and systemic decongestants (neo-synephrine, pseudoephedrine); decongestants may cause excitability.
• Antihistamine (especially at bedtime). Antihistamine may cause drowsiness.
• Mucoevacuants (guafenesin)

Children should never be given aspirin because of the danger of it causing brain damage. (Reyes syndrome)

Antibiotics do not shorten a cold, reduce the severity of the illness, or prevent secondary bacterial complications.

Consider consulting your doctor

• If the child develops a "second fever" later in the course of the cold.
• If the nasal symptoms and cough are no better or worsen after 10-14 days.

If the child complains of ear pain (or the young child pulls at the ear).