When Should I Call My Doctor
Babies under 3 months of age can find it hard to breathe through a stuffed-up nose, which can make feeding difficult. Call your doctor to make an appointment or take your baby to an emergency department if your baby:
- is having trouble breathing,
- is not eating or is vomiting, or
- has a fever .
Some respiratory viruses that cause colds in older children and adults may cause more serious illness in babies and toddlers. These illnesses include croup , pneumonia , bronchiolitis , or sore eyes, sore throat and neck gland swelling. Children with these conditions need to be seen by a doctor.
Children of all ages should see a doctor if the cold seems to be causing more serious problems. Call your doctor or take your child to an emergency department if you notice your child:
- is breathing rapidly or seems to be working hard to breathe,
- has blue lips,
- is coughing so badly that they are choking or vomiting,
- wakes in the morning with one or both eyes stuck shut with dried yellow pus,
- is much sleepier than usual, doesnt want to feed or play, or is very fussy and cannot be comforted, or
- has thick or coloured discharge from the nose for more than 10 to 14 days.
Call your doctor if your child shows any sign of a middle ear infection , which can be caused by a cold.
A Pharmacist Can Help With Cold Medicines
You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine.
You can:
- ease aches or lower a temperature with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
- relieve a blocked nose with sprays or tablets
Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you’re taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets. Cough and cold medicines often also contain paracetamol and ibuprofen so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose.
Some are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women.
There’s little evidence that supplements prevent colds or speed up recovery.
Heres What Causes All That Congestion
When a pathogen enters our airways, it latches to cells deep inside our noses and begins to multiply. As the virus does this, it irritates our nasal passages and sinuses, triggering inflammation, said Dr. Christopher Thompson, an otolaryngologist with Providence Mission Hospital in Orange County, California.
This signals your immune system to create mucus to wash the virus out of your system, Thompson said. That mucus, which builds up and creates sinus pressure, also moistens our irritated nose and and sinuses. We actually always have some mucus draining down the back of our throat, but the mucus produced during a cold is much thicker and stickier. It also becomes yellow and green a sign that our body is, in fact, fending off a virus.
Most people will recover from a cold within about seven days, but the congestion sometimes lingers even when the infection itself has cleared, and you might find yourself blowing your nose or clearing your throat for a week or two longer.
This is because your body produces a lot of extra mucus to flush the cold virus out of your system, Thompson said. It takes time for your body to clear out all that mucus, even after the virus itself is no longer in your system.
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What Helps You Feel Better
Treating the symptoms and supporting your immune system is the best course of action to feel better faster. Everyones experience of a cold is slightly different from the next persons, and there are many options in the cold and flu aisle at the drugstore. How do you know which symptom remedies are right for you?
The key is to find what works best for you personally, for your symptoms, whether its over-the-counter cold and flu remedies or soothing herbal tea. If, for example, you experience bad sinus pressure when you have an upper respiratory infection, a decongestant like pseudoephedrine or a nasal sinus rinse might be good to have on hand. If its coughing that usually makes your life miserable during a chest cold, you could try inhaling hot steam from the sink or shower a few times a day to help break things up.
Your immune systems job is to eradicate viral and bacterial infections from your body. Its very effective as long as you provide it with the proper support. The best way to do that is to rest. Being stressed out or not getting enough sleep releases hormones that suppress your immune system.
What Is The Common Cold In Children
The common cold is one of the most common illnesses in children. Each year it leads to more healthcare provider visits and missed days from school and work than any other illness. Millions of people in the U.S. will get a cold each year.
Here are a few facts:
-
Most children will have at least 6 to 8 colds a year. Children who attend daycare will have more.
-
Colds may occur less often after age 6.
-
Children are more likely to have colds during fall and winter.
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How Long You Must Quarantine During A Covid
Recently updated guidelines set forth by CDC officials indicate that those who test positive for COVID-19 must be isolated at home for at least five days. These guidelines indicate that sick individuals should only break their isolation if they’ve been free of a fever, without the help of medication, for at least 24 hours.
As of May 19th, over 45% of the U.S. population is in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level.At high COVID-19 Community Levels, people should be masking.At medium levels, people should consider masking based on personal risk.
Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH May 20, 2022
But experts add that those who continue to test positive via rapid, at-home tests should still be considered infectious, and remain quarantined to minimize the risk of getting others around them sick.
“In patients who are largely asymptomatic, staying isolated to prevent spread to family members and close contacts particularly if those contacts are immunocompromised or elderly is important, with no specific treatment beyond rest indicated,” Dr. Wright says.
Your recovery period may be lessened if you take advantage of current antiviral treatments, including the prescribed outpatient treatment Paxlovid, as well as a few other options.
Medications For A Sinus Infection
Sometimes, your sinus infection wont go away without care from your primary care doctor or otolaryngologists . Most bacterial sinus infections can be cured with the help of antibiotic medicines a type of medicine that kills bacteria. Antibiotics will help you feel better after a couple days, but its important to finish the entire amount that your doctor prescribed.
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Beyond A Week: Could It Be Something Else
If youve been nursing a cold, but havent gotten better after a week, or if cold symptoms return often, you may be dealing with allergies or a sinus infection rather than a cold.
Symptoms commonly associated with allergies, which can last months, include:
- Itchy eyes
- Clear runny nose
- Nasal congestion
Symptoms of a sinus infection, which can last anywhere from one to three months or more, can include:
- Nasal congestion
- Pressure or pain around the eyes and forehead
- Fatigue
- Fever
If you suspect allergies or a sinus infection, Dr. Glatt recommends seeing your doctor to get a complete evaluation.
How Do I Know If My Child Has A Cold
Typical cold symptoms include:
- fatigue , and
- mild fever.
The influenza virus causes high fever, cough and body aches. It strikes more quickly than a cold and makes people feel worse. Children with colds usually have energy to play and keep up their daily routines. Children with the flu are usually in bed.
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Care Advice For A Cold
How Are Colds Diagnosed
Your doctor won’t be able to find which virus caused the illness, but can check your child’s throat and ears and take a throat culture to make sure the symptoms aren’t from another condition that may need treatment. If symptoms get worse instead of better after 3 days or so, the problem could be strep throat, sinusitis, pneumonia, or bronchitis, especially if your son or daughter smokes.
If symptoms last for more than a week appear at the same time every year or happen when your child is around pollen, dust, or animals, an allergy could be to blame. Kids who have trouble breathing or wheeze when they catch a cold could have asthma.
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Why Won’t My Doctor Prescribe Antibiotics
Antibiotics are used to treat infections caused by bacteria. Colds are caused by viruses, so do not respond to antibiotics.
The overuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance, where bacterial infections become less easily treatable.
Your doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics only if your child has developed a bacterial infection in addition to their cold.
This Is How Long Your Omicron Symptoms Will Last Doctors Say
- Vanessa Chalmers, Digital Health Reporter
- 7:47 ET, Jan 27 2022
- Vanessa Chalmers, Digital Health Reporter
- Invalid Date,
OMICRON can leave you cooped in the house for days on end.
But the good news is it’s unlikely youll suffer anything more than a mild cold, largely thanks to immunity from vaccines.
The jabs have made a huge difference to reduce the severity and – according to experts – duration of Covid illness.
Already most of the population were double-jabbed before Omicron emerged. But two doses are not enough against the super strain.
A booster shot is vital for protection against Omicron, reducing the risk of hospitalisation and therefore warding off any strict Covid rules.
Data has shown that most people who catch Omicron will recover in less than a week.
According to the ZOE COVID Symptom Study, 70 per cent of patients recover from Omicron symptoms in seven days.
This compares to only 44 per cent of those who had Delta.
Astonishingly, 12 per cent of people with Omicron – around one in eight – feel better in just one day, compared to five per cent of Delta patients.
And a third are better in three days, compared to 15 per cent for Delta.
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How Severe Are The Symptoms
Most sinus infections go away on their own without severe symptoms or complications. If a sinus infection is caused by bacteria, you may need antibiotics.
Many cases of COVID-19 may be mild or moderate. The World Health Organization estimates that
Heres what to do next whether you think that you have a sinus infection or COVID-19.
What Can I Take For A Cold While Breastfeeding
If you are breastfeeding, its important to be careful about what you put into your body, as what you ingest can enter your breast milk and thus be ingested by your baby.
While most cold medicines are safe to take while breastfeeding, make sure to first:
- Check with your doctor.
- Determine the active ingredient in the medicine.
- Check the correct dosage amount.
- Be prepared to monitor your baby for any behavioral or medical changes.
Generally, the amount of medicine that enters your milk when breastfeeding is much lower than the amount your baby would be exposed to while in your uterus.
However, because these drugs do enter your milk in small quantities, try to stick with the lowest possible dose you need to treat your symptoms. Also, to minimize any possible effects on your baby, you can feed your baby first and then take the medicine.
- Zyrtec
- Nasal sprays that contain Afrin , Flonase, Nasacort , or plain saline
- Dextromethorphan
- Lozenges containing mild antiseptics, amylmetacresol, dichlorobenzyl alcohol, or cetylpyridinium
- Certain influenza antiviral medications, such as oseltamivir
- Most cold and allergy relief eye drops
It is also safe to get the flu vaccine when you are breastfeeding.
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How Long Does A Cold Last
Many different viruses can cause colds, but rhinoviruses are the most common cause. The amount of time someone has a cold will depend on their overall health and age. Generally speaking, most colds will go away on their own within a couple of weeks. Kids and seniors are more prone to catching colds than young and middle-aged adults.
When To Seek Medical Care
See a doctor if you have:
- Trouble breathing or fast breathing
- Dehydration
- Fever that lasts longer than 4 days
- Symptoms that last more than 10 days without improvement
- Symptoms, such as fever or cough, that improve but then return or worsen
- Worsening of chronic medical conditions
This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.
Colds can have similar symptoms to flu. It can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Learn more about differences between cold and flu.
When you have a cold, mucus fills your nose and could cause post-nasal drip, headache, and a sore throat.
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When Should I See A Doctor For Nasal Congestion
In many cases of nasal congestion, there is no need to see a doctor. For example, if you have a common cold with no complications, or hay fever, you can often manage this yourself. A pharmacist may be able to help advise if you need some over-the-counter medication to help with the symptoms. You should consider seeing a doctor if:
- Your nasal congestion is not getting better after a week or two despite trying the remedies suggested in this leaflet or the leaflet specific to the condition causing it.
- You are not sure what the cause is for your nasal congestion.
- You have any blood in the discharge coming from your nose.
- Only one side of your nose is blocked.
- You or your child are unwell with a high temperature as well as having nasal congestion.
- A baby has nasal congestion and is having difficulties feeding or breathing.
- You feel very unwell.
How To Prevent Catching A Cold
A person with a cold can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin until the symptoms have finished.
The best ways to avoid catching a cold are:
- washing your hands with warm water and soap
- not sharing towels or household items with someone who has a cold
- not touching your eyes or nose in case you have come into contact with the virus it can infect the body this way
- staying fit and healthy
The flu vaccine helps prevent flu but not colds.
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What Is The Difference Between Cold Flu And Covid
The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those of a cold, including a cough, sore throat and runny nose. The CDC continues to recommend that all people with symptoms of COVID-19 be tested for the virus.
Seasonal flu is caused by influenza viruses only and not by seasonal coronaviruses. It can be difficult, if not impossible, to tell the difference between catching the flu and a common cold by the symptoms alone. But, generally, the flu makes people feel worse than a cold and flu symptoms are typically more intense, says the CDC .
Symptoms of flu can include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. There are serious health complications that can develop as a result of being infected by influenzas, such as pneumonia, organ failure, sepsis, and inflammation of the heart, brain or muscle tissues.
Receiving a flu vaccination yearly is the first and best way to prevent getting sick with influenza, the CDC said.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . Common Colds: Protect Yourself and Others.
Mayo Clinic. . Common cold.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . Symptoms of COVID-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. . Cold Versus Flu.