Give lots of clear liquids (for example: water, juice, Gatorade, Koolaid, soda, Jello, popsicles). Young babies may take water, sugar-water or sometimes Pedialyte (the oral rehydration fluid) which the doctor may prescribe for your child.
Using a cool-mist humidifier while the child is sleeping can help a very dry cough by thinning out the mucous drainage. Remember that some coughing may be beneficial because it helps clear the mucous from the child’s breathing passages. Cough suppression medication is usually not used unless the child is coughing so much that he or she is vomiting or cannot sleep. Severe coughing is a sign that the child should be seen by the doctor.
Older children may use throat lozenges to help relieve their cough. You may need to use a nasal bulb syringe for babies to clear mucous from the nose. It is sometimes necessary to use salt-water nose drops to loosen the mucous before using the bulb syringe. (We will give you a sheet on suctioning the child’s nose with a bulb syringe).
Raise the head of the crib slightly by elevating the spring mattress on the rungs at the head of the crib. This will help the mucous drain during sleep time. Sometimes, we may recommend decongestant medicines. Follow the doctor’s advice for the amount to give.
No one should smoke around the child. Avoid using powders on the child because it may aggravate cough or congestion. If the child has an allergy, please refer to our handout on “desensitizing” an allergic child’s environment. If your child has any labored breathing or wheezing, please call us immediately.
CARE OF THE CHILD WITH A SORE THROAT
Give lots of cool liquids (for example: Koolaid, Jello, etc. as above). Older children may gargle with Chloraseptic or warm salt water, or they may use throat lozenges for temporary relief. Use appropriate dosages of Tylenol to help with any pain. If the child has Strep Throat, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. Please give the medicine for a total of 10 days. Do not forget to change your child’s toothbrush so that they do not continually re-infect themselves.
Cough, Cold, Sore Throat rev.: 11/10/09