COUGHS AND COLDS IN CHILDREN

Coughs and colds are mostly caused by a virus. It is usually a sign that the child’s body is trying to get rid itself of an irritant, from mucus to a foreign object. They naturally clear away on their own and antibiotics are mostly of no use; paracetamol or ibuprofen may ease some of the symptoms.

Common causes of cough include infections like colds and flu, whooping cough, asthma, acid reflux and allergies/sinusitis

Symptoms include cough and a runny nose. The cough maybe worse at night but doesn’t damage the lungs. Additionally, the child may have a fever, sore throat, headache, no appetite and tiredness. Also, a build-up of mucus behind the eardrums may cause dulled hearing or mild earache

Symptoms are worse in the first 2-3days and then ease over the next few days as the immune system clears the virus but an irritating cough may last up to 2-4weeks after other symptoms are gone. 

Note that antibiotics do not kill viruses and so are of no use for common coughs and colds

                                                                          ~Dr. Favvy

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