It is not always enough to take all the measures recommended by the pediatrician to prevent them from getting sick: during the cold season, infants and children in the first years of life have a high probability of catching a cold or suffering from another type of airway infection, such as sore throat or bronchitis, especially if they attend kindergarten or other early childhood facilities.
Despite all the efforts that parents can make to protect the little ones, especially in the colder months and during seasonal changes, colds very often afflict newborns, since the viruses responsible are transmitted very easily by air and intercepting them is almost inevitable if someone in the family gets sick or if the child comes into contact with other children or adults.
In addition, the likelihood of infants contracting a respiratory infection sustained by viruses and bacteria is particularly high because their immune system is still developing, making it more vulnerable to colds and other classic winter ailments.
It is not surprising, therefore, that even the constitutionally strongest and healthiest children can experience 4 to 10 colds in the first year of life, made even more likely by the natural tendency of children to constantly explore, touch and put in their mouths everything they encounter, including household objects potentially contaminated with viruses and bacteria.
Since, in the first months of life, the newborn should not take medication (except in the case of significant diseases that necessarily require specific therapy), even a simple cold can be a difficult moment to overcome, both for the baby and for the parents who have to treat and care for him.
The natural instinct of a small child is to breathe through the nose, therefore, when the nostrils are closed due to secretions and mucous membrane inflamed by colds, the discomfort perceived by the newborn is very intense, both awake and during sleep, and not only rest and feeding (including breastfeeding), but also mood are affected. The child, in fact, becomes irritable, inappetent, cries often and sleeps little, preventing mom and dad from resting.
For these reasons, even if they do not pose a serious health risk, colds and stuffy nose must be treated appropriately, from the onset.
Only in this way can on the one hand prevent colds (which are always and only of viral origin) from being complicated with more serious bacterial infections (such as otitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis or even pneumonia) and on the other hand promote nutrition and sleep, preventing the child from becoming nervous and restless.
Symptoms
Typical cold symptoms in the newborn are:
- nasal congestion and/or runny nose
- production of clear and fluid mucus, which can become thicker and yellow-green and which, after a few days, should return clear and fluid again
- fever may appear in the first few days, although not high
- sneezing, coughing, hoarseness, sore throat
- reddened eyes.
If cold-like symptoms occur persistently, continuing for several weeks (especially between February and June), it could instead be an allergy to pollen or other substances in the environment. In this case, the following appear:
- itchy eyes and tearing, even very intense
- repeated attacks of serial sneezing
- possible generalized itching
- production of clear and fluid mucus, which does not change characteristics over time, but which can be very abundant, forcing you to blow your nose often
- absence of fever.
In the vast majority of cases, a cold is not a condition that can give serious health consequences. However, you should contact your doctor immediately if:
• the baby is less than 3 months old and the body temperature is equal to or greater than 37.5 ° C (although it should not be frightening, even a mild fever in the first months of life should never be underestimated)
• cold symptoms do not disappear after a week (usually enough time for an almost complete recovery)
• cough worsens and your child wheezing or struggling to breathe (a sign that he may have lung problems)
• lips turn blue (a sign that the baby is breathing badly and does not absorb enough oxygen)
• your child repeatedly pulls or rubs his ears (this may be otitis or mumps at onset)
• there are minimal traces of blood in the mucus
• there is a strong redness and / or swelling of the pharynx, especially if with whitish plaques on the inflamed mucosa
• vomiting occurs, in addition to respiratory symptoms.
Tips and remedies
Unless your pediatrician prescribes them, your young child should not take medications, including mucolytics and nasal decongestant sprays. In addition, he should never be given antibiotic therapy in case of simple colds and, more generally, without a precise medical indication.
If you want to protect your child from unnecessary risks, it is good to respect these recommendations, in the knowledge that there are some simple measures that will help him overcome a cold easily, in a few days. Here they are.
| Clear your nose | In the pharmacy you can find special pumps to be used for suck mucus from the nasal cavities and facilitate hygiene and cleaning of the nose. If this is not enough, especially when the mucus is very thick, you may need to put in the nostrils a few drops of physiological saline solution before aspiration, to soften and fluidize secretions |
| Nasal washes | If a cold causes the appearance of a large amount of phlegm In the upper airways, to clear the nose, the so-called nasal washes. You can use a simple syringe (obviously needle-free!): after aspirating the right amount of solution physiological (5 ml per nostril in newborns, 10 ml in infants), is necessary to introduce it into a nostril by exerting on the piston of the Syringe a light pressure, but continuous, so that the liquid protrudes from the other nostril. The operation must be performed for both nostrils |
| Aerosol | The usefulness of aerosol to fight colds is still very controversial. According to some, in fact, the aerosol would be useless in case of upper respiratory tract infections (such as colds). The advantage of this device is in fact to transport the medications in the lower respiratory tract (trachea, bronchi, etc.). A It would therefore benefit only those suffering from disorders such as for example bronchitis, bronchiolitis and laryngitis |
| Let the child drink often | Fluids are even more important to a child than they are. are for an adult because, especially in case of diseases, the risk of dehydration in the first years of life is greater. It is good to make sure, therefore, that the child drinks enough, preferably water natural or unsweetened chamomile. Whenever possible, it would be good to offer milk to the little ones maternal, even in the early stages of weaning: in addition to providing liquids is rich in antibodies; In addition, breastfeeding comforts and reassures the newborn |
| Humidify the air | Especially if the nasal mucus is thick, it is useful to let the baby breathe in an environment saturated with steam. To do this, simply slide hot water from the shower or bathtub until the bathroom will not be filled with steam and hold the baby for at least 15 minutes, for For example, taking advantage of the daily bath time. This Trick should also help solve sinus congestion Paranasal sinuses. Also the use of a vaporizer in the environment where you stay The baby, especially during sleep, is very useful since it helps to dissolve the phlegm and clear the nose with subsequent washing Nasal |
| Lifting your head during sleep | The horizontal position maintained during sleep tends to worsen the breathing and, therefore, to increase the discomfort given by the cold. Use a pillow (placed under the mattress) to hold slightly raised the baby’s head when he is resting helps the mucus to drain and the baby to breathe better and sleep more peacefully |
Following these tips, your child should recover from a cold within about 5-7 days. If you have any doubts about the progress of colds, you should not hesitate to consult your pediatrician: the symptoms of pneumonia and other respiratory complications, in the early stages, are very similar to those of colds and adequate early therapy allows a faster resolution of airway disease.
Joycelyn Elders is the author and creator of EmpowerEssence, a health and wellness blog. Elders is a respected public health advocate and pediatrician dedicated to promoting general health and well-being.
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