Children Common Cold Causes Cure and Remedies
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AllNutri.com |
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Introduction : The common cold is the most common illness in the US and
it is the number one reason that children visit the doctor and stay at home and
far from school. Infants and children are affected more often and experience
more prolonged symptoms than adults. Most of colds that a child gets are not
anything more than a nuisance, but in some cases you may require to call a
doctor, mainly if the symptoms are extreme or if the child is very young. On
average kids get 3 to 10 colds every year and each cold can last as long as 10
to 14 days. The common cold accounts for about 22 million missed days of school
and 20 million absences from work, including time away from work caring for sick
children.
Causes : The common cold is a type of upper respiratory tract infection,
which is the area from your neck up. This is probably the most frequent type of
infection in children. Most colds are caused by rhinoviruses that are in
invisible droplets in the air we breathe or on things we touch. Because the
common cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics will not help to either stop
symptoms or cure the cold. More than 100 different rhinoviruses can infiltrate
the protective lining of the nose and throat, triggering an immune system
reaction that can cause a throat sore and headache, and make it hard to breathe
through the nose.
Colds are spread easily because the viruses are shed in the secretions of an
infected persons nose and throat. These viruses can survive on most surfaces for
many hours and you can get them on your hand if you touch one of these surfaces.
If you then touch your nose, mouth or eyes, you will get infected. There are
many causes of children common colds such as seasonal patterns, which are that
common cold, may occur at any time of year as greatest number of colds occur
during the fall and winter months, but colds are not caused by cold climates or
being exposed to cold air. Transmission, which is person to person, either by
direct contact or by contact with the virus in the environment. Direct contact,
which is if a child with a cold touches another child or adult, who then touches
their eye, nose, or mouth, the virus can later infect that person because people
with colds typically carry the cold virus on their hands, where it is capable of
infecting another person for at least two hours and infection from particles on
surfaces.
Signs and Symptoms :
Most children who have colds do
not develop complications. However, parents should be aware of the signs and
symptoms of potential complications. The signs and symptoms of a cold usually
begin one to two days after exposure. The first symptoms of a cold are often a
tickle in the throat, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. In children, nasal
congestion is the most prominent symptom. Kids with colds may also have a sore
throat, cough, headache, mild fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and loss of
appetite. Nasal discharge may change from watery to thick yellow or green. The
symptoms of a cold are usually worst during the first 10 days. However, some
children continue to have a runny nose, congestion, and a cough beyond 10 days.
Prevention :
The best way to prevent spread
of colds is to teach your children to cover their nose and mouth when they
sneeze and cough, wash their hands frequently and wash surfaces that come in
contact with someone that has a cold. There is no treatment for the common cold,
but you can take steps to make your child more comfortable, including using a
pain or fever reliever, moisturizing nose drops, rest, plenty of fluids, and
decongestants and/or cough suppressants if needed.
When to Call the Doctor :
There is the chance your child may actually have something more serious than
a common cold, like the flu, which may require treatment by a doctor. A cold
usually peaks in two to three days and lasts for about a week, with possible
mild symptoms leftover for an additional week. If your child's symptoms last for
more than a week without improvement, or he or she has a fever higher than 103
degrees F for more than two to three days, aches, fatigue, sweating or cough
with colored phlegm, you should see your doctor.
Herbal
Treatments : It is more difficult to control an illness once it is
well established. As precaution measurement we may also use herbal remedies for
common cold. A number of alternative products, including zinc, vitamin C, and
herbal products such as echinacea, are known to treat or prevent the common
cold. The use of herbs that stimulate the immune system at the first sign of a
cold or flu can be very effective in minimizing symptoms, cut the duration of
the sickness, and decrease the complications such as bronchitis.
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