The common cold in children: Management and prevention. Upper respiratory tract infection. Mayo Clinic; Natural Medicines. Drutz JE. Acute pharyngitis in children and adolescents: Symptomatic treatment. Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, Sullivan JE, et al. Clinical report — Fever and antipyretic use in children.
Reaffirmed July Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Renaud DL expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. See also Avoid rebound nasal congestion Breast-feeding and medications Can chicken soup cure a cold? Chicken soup: Can it treat a cold? Cold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body? Cold or allergy: Which is it? Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm? Cough Vitamin C and mood Does zinc work for colds?
Echinacea: Is it effective for the common cold? Exercise and illness Fatigue Hand-washing tips Have a cold? Common sense rules Have a cold? Fight back with humidity Have a cold? Fight it with fluids Headache Honey: An effective cough remedy? How well do you wash your hands? Humidifier care Humidifiers Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't?
Nasal Cleaning Nasal congestion Neti pot: Can it clear your nose? Plugged ears: What is the remedy? Runny nose Stuffy nose? Vitamin C: Can it prevent colds? Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold? When to Take Your Child to the E. In: Kliegman RM, St. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Updated by: Linda J. Editorial team. How to treat the common cold at home. Treating Your Cold. Acetaminophen Tylenol and ibuprofen Advil, Motrin help lower fever and relieve muscle aches.
Do not use aspirin. Check the label for the proper dose. Call your provider if you need to take these medicines more than 4 times per day or for more than 2 or 3 days.
They are not recommended for children under age 6. Talk to your provider before giving your child OTC cold medicine, which can have serious side effects. Coughing is your body's way of getting mucus out of your lungs.
So use cough syrups only when your cough becomes too painful. Throat lozenges or sprays for your sore throat. Antibiotics do not work against viruses that cause colds and will not help you feel better.
Risk Factors Many factors can increase your risk for catching a cold, including: Close contact with someone who has a cold Season colds are more common during the fall and winter, but it is possible to get a cold any time of the year Age infants and young children have more colds per year than adults Symptoms Symptoms of a cold usually peak within 2 to 3 days and can include: Sneezing Stuffy nose Runny nose Sore throat Coughing Mucus dripping down your throat post-nasal drip Watery eyes Fever although most people with colds do not have fever When viruses that cause colds first infect the nose and air-filled pockets in the face sinuses , the nose makes clear mucus.
When to Seek Medical Care See a doctor if you have: Difficulty breathing or fast breathing Dehydration Fever that lasts longer than 4 days Symptoms that last more than 10 days without improvement Symptoms, such as fever or cough, that improve but then return or worsen Worsening of chronic medical conditions This list is not all-inclusive. Close When you have a cold, mucus fills your nose and could cause post-nasal drip, headache, and a sore throat.
Read more: Colds Versus Flu. Top of Page. Over-the-Counter Medicine and Children Be careful about giving over-the-counter medicines to children. Pain relievers: Children younger than 6 months: only give acetaminophen. Children 6 months or older: it is OK to give acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Cough and cold medicines: Children younger than 4 years old: do not use unless a doctor specifically tells you to. Use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in young children can result in serious and potentially life-threatening side effects. Prevention You can help prevent colds by doing your best to stay healthy and keep others healthy, including: Clean your hands. Avoid close contact with people who have colds or other upper respiratory infections.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. However, some studies have found that taking vitamin C before cold symptoms start may shorten the length of time you have symptoms. Study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have contributed to the mixed results.
Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you notice cold symptoms and continue it for seven to 10 days. It appears to be safe for healthy adults, but it can interact with many drugs.
Check with your doctor before taking echinacea or any other supplement. Several studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the length of a cold. But research has turned up mixed results about zinc and colds. Some studies show that zinc lozenges or syrup reduce the length of a cold by about one day, especially when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms of a cold.
Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects. Intranasal zinc might cause permanent damage to the sense of smell. The U.
Food and Drug Administration FDA issued a warning against using zinc-containing nasal cold remedies because they are associated with a long-lasting or permanent loss of smell. If you or your child has a cold and symptoms persist or worsen or are severe, make an appointment with your primary care provider or your child's pediatrician. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment. Your doctor will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs.
Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your time with the doctor. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis In general, you don't need to see the doctor for a common cold. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.
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