This week, Bobbi Conner talks with Dr. Sara Ritchie about how to care for your child’s cold and cough. Dr. Ritchie is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a pediatrician at MUSC Children’s Health.
TRANSCRIPT:
Conner: I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio with Health Focus here at the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Fall and winter are considered prime times for children to get sick with a cold. Doctor Sara Ritchie is here to talk about how to care for your child's cold and cough, and simple remedies to ease their symptoms. Doctor Ritchie is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics and a pediatrician at MUSC Children’s Health. Doctor Ritchie, what viruses cause a cold?
Dr. Ritchie: Most commonly, rhinoviruses cause about 30 to 50% of all colds. But other viruses that can cause colds include coronaviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. And of course, there are a ton of others. And, symptoms in children can include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and sometimes fever. And most colds are generally self-limited and resolve within a week or shortly thereafter.
Conner: And what do parents need to know or do if their infant gets a cold in the first weeks or months of life?
Dr. Ritchie: For infants under five weeks, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F or higher needs to be seen emergently. But otherwise in very young infants, especially under two months, any respiratory illnesses really need close attention and you're looking for signs of breathing difficulty, poor feeding or fever, and that would warrant an evaluation.
Conner: So, these young infants are particularly vulnerable and we need to seek medical help.
Dr. Ritchie: Exactly.
Conner: What are the main tips for helping kids beyond that early infant stage when they have sneezing, stuffy nose and sore throat?
Dr. Ritchie: Really supportive care is the most effective and that could include saline drops, sprays or mists. And you partner that with gentle suctioning. And I'll give you a pro tip, is using saline mist with suctioning right before a feed so that they can breathe while they're feeding. And for older children, a cool mist humidifier and adequate hydration can be really helpful.
Conner: And what about managing your child's cough?
Dr. Ritchie: I always joke that cough is music to the pediatrician's ear. The reason being cough is a protective reflex, so we generally avoid suppressing it. And, a cough helps kids clear their phlegm. However, we totally understand that it can be distressing and prevent sleeping kids. So, for children over one year, you could try honey. And that can soothe throat irritation and also help with cough. For over-the-counter cough medications, we do not recommend those for young children, especially under six years of age, because of safety concerns. And you want to keep in mind that if the cough is persistent, barky, or associated with breathing difficulty, your child should be evaluated. And if you're concerned about your child's appearance or behavior, it is always appropriate to have your child evaluated.
Conner: And when should parents consider giving medicine to reduce their child's fever?
Dr. Ritchie: Fever itself is not harmful. It's a sign that the body is fighting infection. However, you want to treat fever if your child is uncomfortable, rather than basing a treatment on a specific thermometer number. Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol or ibuprofen, also known as Motrin or Advil, are appropriate when you're dosing them correctly, but we do not recommend ibuprofen, Motrin, or Advil for infants under six months of age. And we also don't generally recommend aspirin.
Conner: Doctor Ritchie, thanks for talking with us about helping kids with a cold.
Dr. Ritchie: You're welcome.
Conner: From the radio studio for the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, I'm Bobbi Conner for South Carolina Public Radio.
Health Focus transcripts are intended to accurately represent the original audio version of the program; however, some discrepancies or inaccuracies may exist. The audio format serves as the official record of Health Focus programming.
