There is no cure for the common cold. Most children recover from colds on their own. Antibiotics don’t work against viral infections, so they are not prescribed. Instead, treatment is focused on helping ease your child’s symptoms until the illness passes. To help your child feel better:
- Give your child plenty of fluids, such as water, electrolyte solutions, apple juice, and warm soup. This helps prevent fluid loss (dehydration).
- Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.
- To ease nasal congestion, try saline nasal sprays. You can buy them without a prescription, and they’re safe for children. These are not the same as nasal decongestant sprays. These may make symptoms worse.
- Keep your child away from tobacco smoke. Smoke will make the irritation in the nose and throat worse.
- Use children’s-strength medicine for symptoms. Discuss all over-the-counter (OTC) products with your child’s healthcare provider before using them, especially for the first time. Don’t give OTC cough and cold medicines to a child younger than 4 years old unless the provider tells you to do so. For children between 4 and 6 years old, only use OTC products when advised by your child’s healthcare provider.
- Never give aspirin to a child age 19 or younger unless directed by your child’s provider. It could cause a rare but serious condition called Reye syndrome.
- Never give ibuprofen to an infant age 6 months or younger.
- Keep your child home until they have been fever-free for 24 hours.
- Use a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s room at night to make breathing easier.
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