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Age and weight is everything when it comes to treating cold and allergies with medication in children. Treatment is meant for comfort and not necessary for colds and mild allergies. Our immune systems will take over and medication shouldn't be the first line of defense in the first year of life. While dosing cold and allergy medication gets easier as your child ages, supportive treatment is available in their first year. First and foremost, depending on age, our children need help clearing secretions within their breathing passage ways.
A damp clean washcloth to soften hardened boogies and a saline mister, of some sort, make a huge difference in clearing the nose. Keeping the air in the room baby sleeps humidified also decreases dryness and improved respiratory health. These tactics can also be transferred into adult life, just remember how good it feel to clean your face and blow your nose. One other simply improvement is to reduce allergens as often as possible in the regularly used spaces. Dusting, cleaning upholstery, and vacuuming can reduce passageway inflammation and irritation. Being mindful of soap and lotions used can also improve allergy symptoms.
Colds and allergies have similar symptoms and supportive treatments. While improving dryness and reducing allergens will help a cold there are other symptoms that can be managed.
Our Medication Dosage Post for Fever, Pain, Allergy, and Cold helps Parents know how to dose for children based on weight. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are great products for the relief of fever and cold related soreness. Some children are unable to communicate pain and fever, as an adult does, so cues are important. While studies in pediatric fevers conclude that treatment of fevers in non emergent situations are not necessary, keeping your child comfortable is important. Most parents get very scared when they see 103 F on the thermometer but this is your child's body doing what it is best at. It's fighting very hard and in most cases a fever will not reach the danger zone. Again, your child's pediatrician guides their care, we provide education to support healthy families that align with current evidence based medicine.
Saline mist and a humidifier soften secretions making removal easier and more comfortable for children. A nasal aspirator provides more control and precision to quickly and effectively remove secretions until your child is able to blow their nose.
Knowing when to seek help from your pediatrician is important. Kids and babies are funny, they compensate, meaning they look ok, until they can't anymore.
Some stead fast rules to live by when dealing with the little ones:
Fevers are funny and can pop out of no where the important thing to remember is what other symptoms does your child have and the length of the kiddo having that fever. If its just the fever, supportive care (hydration, OTC medications, and sleep) at home may be enough unless you child has that fever for greater than 3 days. If your child has a fever and symptoms, utilize the sick kid line at your pediatrician. Depending on the symptoms they can guide you to your next step.
Lethargy in children is a sure fire sign they are not compensating anymore and need medical attention.
Many febrile illnesses are viral and do not require prescription medications but viral illnesses also leave your child vulnerable for bacterial infections which do need antibiotics.
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