What Causes the Common Cold?
The ‘common cold’ is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and sinuses. A virus is a germ that makes people sick. Young kids get lots of colds, some as many as 8 to 10 each year before they turn 2 years old. Cold viruses are found in the nose and throat. Children frequently touch their noses, eyes and mouths often, put things in their mouths, and touch each other often during play, causing cold germs to spread easily. There is also a lot of contact between parents or caregivers and children, such as holding hands, picking up, feeding, changing diapers and so on. Cold viruses can live on objects for several hours and can be picked up on the hands of other children who touch the same object. Colds tend to be more common in fall and winter when children are indoors and in closer contact with each other, especially when public school begins. Young children have more colds than older children and adults because they haven’t built up immunity and can catch colds from everyone around them. Once you’ve had a virus, you become immune to that virus, so children get fewer colds as they get older. Getting frequent colds is not a sign of a weak immune system. It just means they are exposed to many viruses. It can only become problematic of a child’s immune system is already compromised and the cold weakens it more, leading to more serious complications.
Common Cold Symptoms
Typical cold symptoms are:
- a runny nose (thick or discoloured, usually yellow or green discharge from the nose is normal)
- nasal congestion
- sneezing
- coughing (coughing helps clear mucus from the chest)
- mild sore throat.
- sometimes mild fever.
- sometimes decreased appetite
- sometimes headache
- sometimes tiredness
The flu is different: The influenza (flu) virus causes high fever, cough and body aches, comes on faster than a cold and causes infected persons to feel sicker. While children with colds usually have energy to play and keep up their daily routines, children with influenza are usually in bed.
How To Treat The Common Cold
There is no cure for the common cold. Colds cannot be treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics should be used only when children develop complications from bacteria, such as an ear infection or pneumonia.
Colds usually go away on their own. You can only support your child’s immune system to help shorten the duration of the cold and make your child comfortable. Symptoms are always looked as bad but they are GOOD. They share that and how the body is fighting the cold. Keep your child as comfortable as possible and cultivate a nourishing environment.
- Rest, plenty of sleep
- Nourishing food
- Lots of time outdoors with bare feet on the ground, movement, and plenty of sunshine on the skin
- Warm baths with magnesium flakes, breastmilk, and herbs
- Immune supporting medicine, such as cod liver oil, elderberry, Feel Better Fast, Cough Be Gone, Propolis Throat spray, manuka honey, Good Night magnesium lotion, and Breathe Well Salve
- Homeopathy (great blog post here)
- Breastfeed on demand
- Mucus is good. Nostrils are inflamed so mucus coats them to decrease inflammation. Excess mucus can make it hard to breastfeed/feed. Clear out excess mucus before breastfeeding by holding your baby up and rocking for several minutes, with a q-tip soaked with breastmilk, or with saline nasal spray and nose frida.
- Calm environment: Keep your baby in a calm environment to rest and play without extra stress. Your baby most likely will wake up more often at night and will need to be rocked back to sleep. They may need more snuggles and closeness.
While it is uncomfortable to see your baby overcoming a cold, it usually won’t last long. While you take care of your baby, make sure you are also taking care of yourself. Rest during the day as baby usually needs more attention during the night. Have your partner or family member take over during the day if possible. Take it easy in the daytime and call upon your village for support. Eat nourishing foods and support your immune system.
I always recommend having things on hand before you need them. Always be prepared so you won’t have to frantically worry about finding things in store or paying an outrageous amount for overnight shipping, etc.
When To Seek More Help
Babies under 3 months of age have difficulty breathing through a blocked nose. Feeding becomes difficult. Call your doctor or take your baby to an emergency department if your baby:
- has trouble breathing;
- is not eating or is vomiting; or
- has a fever
Babies and children of all ages should see a doctor if the cold seems to be causing more serious problems. Call your doctor or take your child to an emergency department if you notice any of the following signs:
- your child is breathing rapidly or seems to be working hard to breathe (retractions!);
- your child’s lips look blue; or
- coughing is so bad that the child is choking or vomiting.
These can be signs of pneumonia (lung infection) or bronchiolitis (an infection of the tiny airways that lead to the lungs).
Call your doctor if your child shows any sign of a middle ear infection, which can result from a cold. These signs include:
- high fever (especially fever that begins several days after the start of a cold);
- earache;
- crankiness;
- vomiting; or
- pus draining from the ear.
Other reasons to contact your doctor:
- If your child wakes in the morning with one or both eyes stuck shut with dried yellow pus. Although red eyes and watery discharge are common with a cold, pus is a sign of an eye infection.
- If your child is much more sleepy than usual, doesn’t want to feed or play, or is very cranky or fussy and cannot be comforted.
- It’s common to have thick or discoloured (yellow, green) discharge from the nose with a cold. This doesn’t need an antibiotic. However, if it lasts for an abnormally extended period of time, contact your doctor.
Above all, you know your child best. You are the expert of your child. If you feel intuitively that everything is right, trust yourself. If you feel that your child needs more help, listen to that too. You know best.
PMID: 19668664
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