Quick Tips for Treating Colds and Flu in Children

Welcome aboard, train wreck.

Shockingly, the Global Panorama hasn’t done away with cold and flu season. My section of the office sounds like D wing of Waverly Hills. (Bonus nachos if you get that reference. If you do, please tell me.) My kids head back to school tomorrow. And I know it won’t be long before one of them brings me the gift of sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, and fever.

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So, what’s a mom supposed to do? Especially with the knowledge that if we get sick no one is going to take care of us, We will still have to go to work, and grocery shop, and make dinner, and do the laundry. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Season of the Flu and Colds

Cold and flu season always follows as the weather becomes cooler and children are indoors and socializing with one another in larger numbers.

You may be aware that cold and flu season is here, but it doesn’t make it any easier when you see your child suffering from a cough and a stuffy nose. During the cold and flu season, children under the age of five, especially those under the age of two, are most vulnerable.

Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold or flu since they are viral diseases. So, please stop telling your doctor to “just give them an antibiotic” or the ever popular “I have these left over from when I was sick.” Stop. Quit. Don’t. There are, however, things you can do to make your kid feel better while their immune system fights the infection.

Make Sure They Drink Lots of Water

Keep your kid hydrated to help them feel better and prevent cold and flu symptoms. Dehydration may occur as a consequence of fever. Your kid may not be as thirsty as usual, and drinking may make them feel uneasy, so it’s crucial to urge them to drink enough of fluids.

Dehydration in newborns, particularly those under the age of three months, may be fatal. If you feel your child is dehydrated, contact your physician. Some symptoms to look out for are:

• reduced activity
• peeing fewer than three to four times in 24 hours
• no tears while sobbing
• dry lips soft
• places that seem sunken-in
• If your kid is breastfed, try to feed him or her more often than normal. If your baby is ill, he or she may be less interested in nursing. It’s possible that you’ll have to feed them in multiple short periods to get them to drink enough liquids.

Consult your child’s doctor to see whether an oral rehydration solution (such as Pedialyte) is necessary. It’s important to remember that you shouldn’t feed children sports beverages.

Children who are older have additional alternatives for hydration. These may include the following:

• popsicles
• juice
• sports drinks
• flat white soda
• broth

Clear Their Nasal Passages If They’re Clogged

Young children should not use medicated nasal sprays. Fortunately, there are a few simple techniques to get rid of a stuffy nose without resorting to medicine.

In your child’s room, use a cool-mist humidifier. This will aid in the removal of mucus. You need to prevent mold from growing in the humidifier; be sure to clean it well between usage.

A saline nasal spray or drops is another option, since it makes thin mucus easier to blow out or remove with a bulb syringe. This is particularly beneficial before a meal or before going to bed.

Loosen The Cough

If your kid is above the age of one, provide honey instead of medicine if he or she has a cough. Honey in the amount of 2 to 5 milliliters (mL) may be given many times during the day.

For children above the age of one year, studies demonstrate that honey is both safer and more effective than cough medications. Due to the danger of botulism, honey should not be given to children under the age of one year.

I am in no way shape or form telling you not to give medicine to your kid. I just know some people are little wary of cough meds specifically. This is an option. As always, consult your kid’s doctor and go with what works best for you and your family.

And if you want to check those studies, here’s the link. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601686/ (Look, ma. I did research this time.)

Encourage Rest

Extra sleep may aid your child’s recovery. And it gives you an opportunity to Lysol bomb your house.

Due to a fever, your youngster may be very hot. Dress them comfortably, avoiding heavy blankets or layers that will make them feel more overheated. A lukewarm bath might also help kids relax and calm off before napping or sleeping for the night.

Know What to Offer and When to Give It

Adults may readily take cold and cough drugs, but the

Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

warns against giving over-the-counter (OTC) cold and cough medications to children under the age of two.

Whether your kid is under the age of two and has a fever or cold symptoms, contact their physician first to see if any medicine is needed and how much to give.

Remember that a fever is the body’s natural defense mechanism against illness. When your kid has a low-grade fever, it isn’t necessarily necessary to treat it with over-the-counter drugs.

To find out whether your kid need medicine, contact your child’s physician first. When taking either children’s or baby acetaminophen (Tylenol), remember to verify the dose instructions, since they may be different.

Check the acetaminophen concentration on the bottle’s label. Make sure you tell your child’s doctor what kind you’re giving them and how many milliliters or half-milliliters you should give them.

If your kid is older than 6 months, you may give him or her ibuprofen to aid with fever or discomfort.

It may be difficult to accurately measure drugs in the cups that come with the bottle. Consult your pharmacist if you have any concerns about using the supplied measuring cup. Many pharmacists can supply more accurate measurement syringes.

Multiple drugs, such as antihistamines, decongestants, and pain relievers, may be prescribed by your child’s physician at the same time. If this is the case, be sure to thoroughly read any medicine labels to prevent accidental overdosing. Acetaminophen, for example, is a pain medication found in several decongestants.

If your kid takes too much acetaminophen, such as a decongestant plus a different acetaminophen-containing prescription, they might get extremely unwell. To avoid giving too much medicine, make a note of the drug you administered and when you provided it.

Always keep in mind that you should never administer aspirin to a youngster under the age of 18. In children, aspirin may induce Reye’s syndrome, an uncommon illness.

Consult Your Child’s Physician

Even the greatest at-home care isn’t always enough to help your child recover completely. If your kid is experiencing any of the following symptoms, contact your doctor immediately once.

• has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher and is under 3 months old
• has a fever that doesn’t go away after taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen
• is wheezing or short of breath
• has a fever of 101°F (38°C) or higher for more than two days or a fever of 104°F (40°C) or higher for any length of time

If you have any worries or questions regarding your child’s health, you should always contact their physician.

Getting Through the Cold and Flu Season

It’s time to move into preventative mode when your kid recovers from a cold or flu. Before or during their illness, individuals should wash any surfaces they touch. Encourage your kids and other family members to wash their hands often to avoid spreading germs.

To prevent transferring viruses to their pals, teach your kid not to share food, beverages, or utensils while they eat. When your kid is sick, particularly if they have a fever, keep them out of daycare or school.

The good news is that the cold and flu season comes and goes. Providing loving care to your kid and taking efforts to help them recover will help you get through the cold and flu season.

Has cold and flu season hit your house? What are your tips for helping your family get better fast?

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