Avoiding a cold and a cough is almost impossible, especially for babies and toddlers. And as a parent, you have to helplessly see your child go through one too many episodes of the same throughout the year. There are around over 200 types of common cold viruses that are ready to attack the weak immune system of our babies and to be honest most of the times these microorganisms succeed in their game plan, despite our best attempts to prevent it. To see your little one become cranky, irritable and deal with the nuisance of a running nose isn t a soothing sight to see. This is a reason most of the time we parents go into an overdrive to get a solution and treat the cold as soon as possible. Here is how ajwain can come to your rescue in treating cold and cough in kids.
But parents don t become hyper with an episode of cold, cough and flu. In fact, it is nature s way of strengthening your child s immune system. Here are few things that you need to keep in mind when your child catches a cold accompanying with a cough:
An episode of the common cold is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and sinuses. A viral infection has no cure and it goes away on its own.
Young children suffer a lot from a cough and cold some may get the infection as many as eight to 10 times each year before they turn 2 years old.
When your child has cold try to keep him/her comfortable by making him/her wear comfortable clothes preferably cotton. In fact, wrapping your child in a blanket or forcing to wear a sweater will only make the little one crankier.
Colds cannot be treated with antibiotics, period. Antibiotics should be used only when children develop complications from bacteria, such as an ear infection or pneumonia. So refrain, from using one to treat the same. In fact, misuse of antibiotics can lead to antibiotic resistance in the child as an adult. Here is why taking antibiotics to treat cold and cough is a bad idea.
Buying over-the-counter cough and cold medications aren t advisable without consulting your doctor or paediatrician. Cough syrups can help to ease the discomfort in your child but if your child is able to breathe normally then avoid using cough syrups to treat a cough.
Coughing helps clear mucus from the chest. If coughing is frequent, dry and is preventing an older child from sleeping, a product or syrup with dextromethorphan (a drug of the morphinan class with a sedative) may help ease it, although studies have shown limited benefit.
If you have an infant who is finding it difficult to take a feed because of a stuffed nose, use a rubber suction bulb to clear mucus from the nose. If you are reluctant to use one then saline nose drops or saline nose spray will also help to clear the thick mucus. The spray goes well into the nasal passages and may be more effective than the drops. Here is how to deal with a blocked nose in an infant.
At home, a cool mist humidifier may make a child with a stuffy nose more comfortable. Clean and dry the humidifier thoroughly to prevent contamination from bacteria or mould. Hot water vaporizers are not recommended for children because of the risk of burns.
Medicated nose drops or sprays provide only brief relief and shouldn t be used for more than 2 to 3 days because the congestion can actually get worse. Don t use these products in children under 6 years old.
One thing that you should keep in mind is to check if your child has a fever. If the temperature is about 100 degrees F, give drops of paracetamol to treat the fever. Remember to give paracetamol to your child in the exact dosage as recommended by your paediatrician. Here are 10 things you need to keep in mind when your child has a fever.
Children can continue their normal activities if they feel well enough to do so. If they have fever or complications, they may need a few days of rest at home. Your child can keep going to school if he feels well enough to take part in the activities.
Your child might become averse to foods or lose appetite during this time, avoid force-feeding anyway. Instead encourage your child to have more liquids, soups and porridges to avoid a bout of dehydration.
If your child is less than six months of age, ensure that he/she is exclusively breastfed to avoid respiratory infections.
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