Facts About The Common Cold
Colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. An antibiotic will not help. Colds spread easily from person to person. A child with a cold can still play outside during winter months.
Colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. An antibiotic will not help. Colds spread easily from person to person. A child with a cold can still play outside during winter months.
A child with a cold may have a high fever and may not feel like eating or playing. More often, children aren’t very sick and have only a cough, runny nose and sneezing. Once in a while, a cold can lead to problems such as ear infection or pneumonia.
As a cold gets better, it is normal to have a runny nose. At first, the mucus is clear. After a few days, the body’s immune cells fight back and the mucus changes to white or yellow or green. This is normal and does not mean that the child is infected with bacteria. A cold usually lasts for 4 to 7 days.
About Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen.
Cold viruses can be in the mucus or saliva and kids can spread it by touching each other or by touching objects, such as toys or tables.
If kids have the virus on their hands and then touch an object, other children can get the virus by touching the same object and putting their hands into their eyes, mouths or noses.
They are especially important during cold and influenza season.
More serious infections can start out as a cold. Call your doctor, if your child has any of these signs:
Print this page as featured in the guide book, Sneezes & Diseases: A Resource Book for Caregivers & Parents.
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