Cough & cold management in babies

Babies catch cough & cold several times in a year owing to lack of immunity against different viruses. Your baby’s throat may be dry and sore for a day or 2 before a cold starts. Most colds get better in 5 to 7 days but can take up to 2 weeks in young children. Babies may also cough when they have a cold because of mucus trickling down the back of the throat. If your child is feeding, drinking, eating and breathing normally and there’s no wheezing, a cough is not usually anything to worry about.

Try to use the following tips to ease the symptoms of cold and cough in your child:

• Give plenty of fluids. If you are breastfeeding, try feeding more often.
• Saline nose drops can help loosen dried snot and relieve a stuffy nose.
• If your child has a high temperature, pain or discomfort, paracetamol can help. Always consult the doctor before giving any medicines.
• Follow hand hygiene in the family.
• Try to give steam to the baby using a vapouriser but from a distance.

Consult a doctor immediately if-

• Your child has a sore throat for more than 4 days, a high temperature and is generally unwell
• Your child is unable to swallow fluids or saliva or have any difficulty breathing
• Your child’s temperature is very high, or they feel hot and shivery, and indicate a chest infection
• A cough continues for a long time, especially if it’s worse at night or is brought on by your child running about. It could be a sign of asthma.

Source: NHS, Zyla Medical Team