Cough, Cold & Sinus Infection
You should take your child into the ER right away if:
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Your child has severe wheezing that is causing them significant difficulty breathing.
Your child has severe croup and is having significant difficulty getting air in.
Your child’s lips or mouth are turning blue due to labored breathing or shortness of
breath.
Your child’s breathing is rapid and labored. Count the number of breaths they take in 30
seconds, multiply it by two, this gives you the breaths per minute. Go to the ER right
away if the breaths are greater than 60 per minute for children under a year, greater
than a 50 for children 1-4, and greater than 40 for children 5 and older. Be aware that
fever alone can cause rapid breathing (and a rapid heartbeat). Reduce the fever first and
then evaluate your child’s breathing.
Your child seems to have whooping cough and during these severe coughing fits turns
blue around the month and lips.
Croup is a viral infection that affects mostly younger children (under 5-6). It causes swelling in
the child’s
Vocal cords, which are what, cause the barky cough. The vocal cords are already the narrowest
part of the air passages, and any swelling from infection may narrow the airway enough to
obstruct breathing. Croup usually lasts 5-6 days and is worse at night. The symptoms tend to
peak on the second or third night. Croup may begin without warning when your child suddenly
sits up in bed with a barking cough. It may begin as a cold gradually escalates into a croupy
cough.
You should see a provider if:
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Temperature and length of fever: Fever greater than 103 for more than 3 days, or fever
greater than 101 for more than 5 days. Remember, it is normal for a cold virus to cause
a fever for 5 days. However, if your child keeps getting fevers more than 103 for more
than 3 days, it would be prudent to take them to the doctor to be sure there are no
bacterial complications yet. It could still just be the cold virus, but it is better not to go
more than 3 days with such a high fever without seeing a doctor.
Unusual lethargy and irritability, especially in infants. Lethargy means or than just not
wanting to run around and play, it means your child can’t make eye contact or is unable
to focus on you or doesn’t respond to your voice. They simply lie on your lap lifeless
with their eyes barely open.
Ear infections, your child has a history of frequent ear infections.
Moderate to severe ear pain. Remember, infants and young children may tug at their
ears simply due to ear congestion, not infection.
Overall acting sick, if you have gut feeling that your child is unusually sick, take them to
the doctor.
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Wheezing, this does not mean the junky, rattling sound of chest or nasal congestion.
Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound, when your child takes a breath. If your child
is a “happy wheezer” then do not worry. If your child is struggling to breathe, then seek
medical attention.
Natural treatments for Coughs, Runny Nose and Congestion
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Steam cleaning. Give your child steam, steam, and more steam. For infants and young
children, turn the bathroom into steam room with the door closed and the shower on
full hot. Sit in there for 10-15 minutes. For older children, use a facial steamer or pot of
hot water (carefully)!! The steam will help loosen the nose and chest congestion and
help your child cough it up or blow it out. Do this steam cleaning every morning and
before bed, as well as during the day if possible.
Clap the chest and back. While you sit in the bathroom steaming, clap on your child’s
chest and back (where the lungs are) firmly (harder than burping) with an open hand.
This helps shake the mucus loose so your child can cough it up better.
Sleeps upright if possible, allow your child to sleep in a slightly upright position. This
allows for easier breathing during sleep.
Nose hose, for older children is crucial to have them blow their nose several times
during a steam cleaning, as well as frequently throughout the day. Getting out all the
junk will help prevent this from turning into a bacterial infection. An alternative to
steaming is to use nasal decongestant spay to loosen up the nasal congestion before
blowing it out. For infants too young to blow their nose, you can suction them out using
a blue rubber bulb syringe.
Hot steam vaporizer. Use a hot steam vaporizer in the bedroom at night (not a cool mist
humidifier). This warm, humid environment can help keep noses and chests clear at
night. Be sure to air the room out well during the day because mold can start to grow in
the room due to warmth and humidity.
To prevent burns keep your hot mist vaporizer out of reach of children!
Add only one drop of each of these to a facial steamer, pot of hot water or some
vaporizers. They can help clear up the congestion faster.
Vapor rubs on the chest. Occasionally, these can cause wheezing because the vapors
may be too strong for some children, but overall they will work well. It is safe to try, but
do observe your child to make sure it doesn’t cause wheezing.
Drink twice as much liquid. This will help to thin secretion and prevent dehydration.