Colds
Colds are a fact of life. Remember that it is totally normal for children up to the age of 7 to have at least 6-8 colds a year. Also, the vast majority of colds are caused by viruses; thus antibiotics (used to treat bacterial infections) are rarely useful except when there is a complication such as an ear infection, pneumonia, or sinusitis.
Thus treatment for colds is largely supportive and includes:
- Increase the amount of clear liquids in the diet.
- Clear the nasal passages with a bulb syringe as needed.
- Thinning the mucus secretions in the nasal passages with saltwater (saline) nose drops. You can make this in your home by taking 12 teaspoons of table salt, adding to it 1 cup of water, bringing this to a boil and then letting it cool to skin temperature. Then place 1-2 drops of this cooled solution into each nostril and later suck it out with the bulb syringe.
- Consider using a cool mist humidifier to improve resolution of congestion
