Cold 

All colds are horrible for our children, especially when the child/children are too young to blow their nose properly themselves, and then they become all stuffy and bunged up and then their chest begins to cause them a problem with chest infections or coughs.

It is most common during winter months to become struck down with colds and flu’s and affects children and adults of all ages.

Anybody with a cold or influenza is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out, and until three days after they feel better. The infection is spread via droplets from coughing and sneezing.

Colds are also spread by people coughing or sneezing into their hands, due to not having a tissue and touching anything, and then lots of people will pick up the cold which has been transferred from hand. if someone has the virus on their hands and then puts them close to their eyes or nose. This is possibly the most common way of catching a cold.

Cold Symptoms

• A sore throat
• pain on swallowing
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Hard to breathe through the nose
• Headache
• Coughing
• Feeling unwell.
• A high temperature (Be careful with temperature/fever in children)

Having a cold causes no serious trouble and will clear up in one or two weeks.

If you have a cold or feel you may be getting one then be sure to rest, and drink plenty of fluids (water preferably and warm drinks for soothing a sore throat). Also if it is an adult with cold/flu try not to smoke, because this will just irritate your mucous membranes in the nose more. Use a bowl of hot water and a towel over your head, and breathe in deeply to loosen the mucous. For children try a vapour rub to ease their breathing and let them rest.

For sore throats and coughs try over the counter medicines, always ask the advice of your chemist for any medicines and especially for children or babies. Liquid paracetamol/Ibruprofen for children usually helps as most medicines are not recommended for children of certain age groups. Always read the labels for age and dose and child’s nose. never give any more than stated on the bottle.

For babies with a stuffy nose and finding it hard to breathe, you can use saline nasal drops to help ease the nose and breathing. Also vapour inhalants sprinkled on a tissue away from babies reach will fill the air and make it easier for baby. Never apply to a babies nose.

Always ask your pharmacist for advice and assistants and remember to throw away any used tissues/handkerchiefs to stop the spread of infections.

Always remember to ask advice from a gp or pharmacist if you are not sure about anything and need advice.