Doctor! Do cough and cold in children persist for a long time? My child’s cough has lasted for almost a fortnight! I have visited two other pediatricians over the last two weeks; they have prescribed what they said were effective antibiotics, but the cough and cold symptoms are still present, although marginally improved. I am at my wits’ end; what should I do?

Have you not been through this and wondered whether your child needed more potent antibiotics? Well, the facts of the matter are [1]:

• Common Cold: Most children recover within 15 days.
• Cough: It takes almost 25 days for nearly all kids to get better.
• Earache: In most cases, symptoms improve within 7-8 days of consulting a doctor.
• Sore Throat: Typically lasts 2-7 days from when they see their doctor.

Mind you, these children were treated only with medicines that gave them symptomatic relief, or one group was given just a placebo, and one group nothing at all, and they all had similar results!

Should you give antibiotics?

Antibiotics are not required for most children with these common symptoms and can be harmful.

1. Since the most common causes of these symptoms are viral illnesses, antibiotics do not act on viruses.
2. Every medicine has an effect, and every medicine has side effects. Why risk side effects when there is not going to be any effect?
3. Worse, the bugs that would have responded to the antibiotics (if they were culprits) get exposure to the antibiotics and can develop antibiotic resistance. A double whammy! When you need antibiotics, we recognize that they may not be effective.

Should you give any of the over-the-counter products for cough and cold?

No, certainly not! Not only do they have questionable benefits, but they may also be downright dangerous!

So what should you do?

• See your doctor – she will determine whether your child has a streptococcal throat infection (a special germ that requires appropriate antibiotic therapy).
• Keep your child well-hydrated by giving them plenty of fluids, especially water, to prevent secretions from drying out and to keep their mucus loose so it can be expelled easily.
• If secretions are very thick, dry, and crusted, then first spray the nostril with a clear saline solution like Nasomist or Nasoclear solutions and then:
• If the child cannot expel the secretions on her own, use a mucus aspirator.

  

  Do ask your pediatrician to demonstrate how to use it.

When should you see your doctor?

• Your child has a fever greater than 101°F (38.4 °C) that lasts more than three days.
• Nasal congestion and discharge do not improve or worsen over a period of 14 days.
• His eyes become red or develop a yellow discharge.
• The child points to the ear or pulls at it, or there is any discharge from it!

1. Using Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products in Children