Your child probably will have more colds, or "upper respiratory infections," than any other illness. In their first two years alone, most children have around 8 to 10 colds. And if your child spends time in a childcare setting, or if there are school-age children in your house, they may have even more. Colds spread easily among children who are in close contact with one another.
That's the bad news, but there is some good news, too: Most colds go away by themselves and do not lead to anything worse.
How colds spread
Colds are caused by viruses (these are much smaller than bacteria). A sneeze or a cough by someone with a virus can then be breathed in by another person, making them sick. The virus may also go from one person to another in the following ways:
Children or adults with the virus can cough, sneeze, or touch their nose and get some of the virus on their hands.
They then touch a surface such as a toy or doorknob, and a someone else touches it after. Or, they may touch the another person's hand directly.
The healthy person then touches their newly contaminated hand to their own nose, and the virus grows in the healthy person's nose or throat. A cold can then develop.
This can happen again and again, with the virus moving from that newly sick child or adult to another person.
How to tell when a child has a cold
Once the virus gets into the body and grows more and more viruses, your child will get some of these signs and symptoms:
Runny nose (first, a clear liquid coming out; later, a thicker, often colored mucus)
Sneezing
Low
fever (101–102 degrees Fahrenheit [38.3–38.9 degrees Celsius]), particularly at night
Not wanting to eat
Sore throat and, perhaps, difficulty swallowing
Cough
Fussiness or irritability on-and-off
Slightly swollen
glands in the neck
If your child has a typical cold without major problems, the symptoms should go away slowly after 7 to 10 days.
When to call the pediatrician
Older children with a cold don't usually need to see a doctor unless they look very sick. It's different for infants, though.
For infants
If a child is 3 months or younger, call the pediatrician at the first sign of illness. With young babies, it may be hard to tell when they are very sick. Colds can quickly become dangerous problems, such as
bronchiolitis,
croup or pneumonia.
For a child older than 3 months
Call the pediatrician if:
The openings of the nose (nostrils) widen with each breath; the skin between and around the ribs and breastbone sucks in with each breath (retractions) as the child inhales; or your child is breathing fast or having any trouble breathing.
The lips or nails turn blue.
Nasal mucus lasts for longer than 10 to 14 days.
The daytime cough lasts more than 10 days.
They have ear pain or ongoing fussiness or crying.
Their temperature is over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius).
They are too sleepy or cranky.
Your child's pediatrician may want to see your child, or may ask you to watch them closely and report back. They will want to know if your child doesn't get better each day and is not completely better within one week from the start of their illness.
How to treat a cold
Unfortunately, there's no cure for the common cold.
Antibiotics may be used to fight infections caused by bacteria, but they have no effect on viruses. The best thing you can do is to make your child comfortable. Make sure they get plenty of rest and drinks a lot of fluids.
How to prevent colds
For babies under 3 months old, the best way to prevent colds is to keep them away from people who have one. This is especially true during the winter, when more people are sick with viruses. A virus that causes a mild illness in an older child or an adult can cause a more serious one in an infant.
Teach your child to sneeze or cough away from others, into the crook of their elbow or shoulder. Even using a tissue (and putting it in the trash right away) or handkerchief is better than having your child cover their mouth with their hand when sneezing or coughing. If the virus lands on their hand, it can spread to whatever they touch—a sibling, a friend or a toy
Everyone should be encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This can help stop colds and other viruses from spreading.
More information