Coughs and colds: What to do
when you're feeling blue
Coughs and colds are a rite of passage for most
children, with some getting eight or more colds a year. Although the frequency and severity of
colds may diminish as we grow older, we unfortunately
have to accept that there is no cure for this
perennial ailment. So the best we can do is to
learn how to cope with the symptoms it brings
with it.
Symptoms of a common cold are recognisable to
most people, regardless of the time of year.
These usually include:
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- A tickle in the back of the throat
- Watering eyes
- A cough
- Headache, which may be accompanied by a
slight fever.
Colds are caused by viruses, known as rhinoviruses,
and they tend to last from around three to ten
days. Occasionally the cold may allow bacteria
to start up a secondary infection, which can
take the form of inflammation of the airways
(bronchitis), sinuses (sinusitis) or middle ear
(otitis media).
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Spring Fever
In the spring and summer a cold can sometimes be mistaken for hay fever
- and vice versa. However, hay fever is an allergic reaction that only
occurs when there is pollen in the air. Some people suffer from a runny
nose all the year round. Known as perennial rhinitis, this can also
be mistaken for a cold but, like hay fever, it is also caused by an
allergy.
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Treatment
As the common cold is caused by a virus and not bacteria, there are no antibiotics
that can cure it. However, symptom relief is readily available in the form
of tablets, capsules, hot drinks and syrups.
Aches and pains, fever and high temperatures
can be relieved with products such as paracetamol,
ibuprofen or aspirin.
Advice on treating cough and cold in children under 6 years of age
In February 2009, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced that parents and carers should no longer use over-the-counter (OTC) cough and cold medicines in children under 6 years of age.
The new advice on treating cough and cold in children under 6 years old is:
- Ensure your child has plenty to drink and gets enough rest.
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen can also used to reduce your child’s temperature.
- For young babies, particularly those who are having difficulty feeding, nasal saline drops are available to help thin and clear nasal secretions.
- If your child is over the age of one, a warm drink of lemon and honey may help to ease a cough.
- If your child is not getting better after 5 days, ask a healthcare professional for advice.
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Caution:
Aspirin, and to a lesser extent ibuprofen, can cause wheeziness in some asthma
sufferers. If you have asthma, use with caution if taking for the first time.
If you know that these medicines cause a problem for you, avoid them altogether
and take paracetamol.
Many cold/flu relief products contain paracetamol,
therefore care must be taken so that not more
than one paracetamol-containing product is taken
at any time. And remember that aspirin should
not be given to children under 16. There are
several flavoured pain relief products on the
market containing ibuprofen or paracetamol that
are made especially for children. These are often
provided as a suspension and as 'meltlets' tablets
for easy swallowing. Examples include Calpol
and Medinol (paracetamol) and Cuprofen and Nurofen
(ibuprofen). Remember to always read the label.
If you have a blocked nose, use a product containing
a decongestant. Some decongestants may raise
blood pressure, and you should not use these
if you have high blood pressure, heart disease,
diabetes or an overactive thyroid gland. If you
are taking other medicines prescribed by your
doctor, check with your pharmacist or doctor
before taking any cold treatments as the two
medicines may interact. Do not give your child
decongestants unless you are told to do so by
your GP.
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Oils such as eucalyptus,
menthol, camphor and clove can be inhaled
to help relieve a blocked nose. Put a few
drops on your handkerchief or add to a
bowl of hot (not boiling) water and inhale
the steam. Alternatively, you can use these
products as a vapour rub and apply to the
chest or back. This is a particularly useful
method for children, and will help them
to sleep. Breathing in steam from a hot
shower or bath can also help ease a blocked
nose and sore throat.
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A cough can often be painful and irritating
and is disturbing at the best of times. Thankfully
there is a wide range of cough syrups available
ranging from traditional soothing linctuses to
those for dry coughs or chesty coughs that will
help to ease your discomfort. Syrups designed
for dry coughs will soothe the tickling feeling
and help reduce the number of times you cough,
in some instances stopping the cough altogether.
Syrups designed for chesty coughs contain ingredients
known as expectorants, which help loosen the
phlegm at the back of the throat so you can cough
it up and expel it easily and painlessly.
What else can you do?
Ways to treat your cold/flu symptoms
- Stay home and rest, especially while you
have a fever.
- Stop smoking and avoid second-hand smoke,
which can make cold symptoms worse.
- Drink plenty of fluids like water, fruit
juices and clear soups. Fluids help loosen
mucus and are also important if you have a
fever because fever can dry up your body's
fluids, which can lead to dehydration.
- Avoid alcohol where possible. (Alcohol should
be avoided with cold and flu remedies that
contain antihistamines.)
- Gargle with warm salt water a few times a
day to relieve a sore throat. Throat sprays
or lozenges may also help relieve the pain.
- Use saline (salt water) nose drops to help
loosen mucus and moisten the tender skin in
your nose.
There are a few, rare conditions that may at
first appear to be a cold but may be more serious.
Call your GP if you have:
- A cold that lasts for more than 10 days
- Earache or discharge from your ear
- Severe pain in your face or forehead
- Temperature above 102 degree F (38.8 degree
C)
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness, sore throat or a cough that won't
go away
- Wheezing
Further information on coughs and cold can be found in the PAGB / Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) cold
and flu leaflet.
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