The nasal discharge may be clear, cloudy, yellow or green
Usually associated with fever and sore throat
Sometimes associated with a cough, hoarseness, watery eyes, and swollen lymph nodes in the neck
Cause
Colds are caused by viruses. Influenza is just a bad cold with more fever and muscle aches. Healthy children average 6 colds a year.
Colds are not serious. Between 5 and 10% of children develop a bacterial complication (ear or sinus infection).
See More Appropriate Topic(instead of this one) If
Runny nose caused by allergies, see HAY FEVER
Cough is the main symptom, see COUGH
Over age 5 and pain around the eye or over the cheekbone, see SINUS PAIN OR CONGESTION
(To go directly to these topics, click on the links following this document.)
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR COLDS
Call 911 Now (your child may need an ambulance)
Severe difficulty breathing (struggling for each breath, unable to speak or cry because of difficulty breathing, making grunting noises with each breath)
Call Your Doctor Now (night or day) If
Your child looks or acts very sick
Difficulty breathing not relieved by cleaning out the nose
Fever > 104°F (40° C)
Age < 12 weeks with fever > 100.4°F (38° C) rectally
Call Your Doctor Within 24 Hours (between 9am and 4pm) If
You think your child needs to be seen
Earache or cloudy discharge from ear canal
Yellow or green eye discharge
Sinus pain or pressure (around cheekbone or eyes)
Severe sore throat present > 24 hours
Fever present > 3 days
Fever returns after going away > 24 hours
Call Your Doctor During Weekday Office Hours If
You have other questions or concerns
Blocked nose interferes with sleep after using nasal washes several times
Yellow scabs around the nasal openings
Nasal discharge present >10 days
Parent Care at Home If
Mild cold and you don't think your child needs to be seen
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR COLDS
1. For a Runny Nose With Profuse Discharge:Blow or Suction the Nose.
The nasal mucus and discharge is washing viruses and bacteria out of the nose and sinuses.
Blowing the nose is all that's needed. For younger children use nasal suction.
Apply petroleum jelly to the nasal openings to protect them from irritation (cleanse the skin first).
2. For a Blocked Nose: Use Nasal Washes.
Use warm water OR saline nose drops to loosen up the dried mucus followed by blowing or suctioning. Instill 2-3 drops in each nostril. (Caution: if < 1 year old, use 1 drop at a time) Do 1 side at a time. Repeat nosedrops until clear. Do nasal washes at least 4 times a day or whenever your child can't breathe through the nose.
Saline nosedrops - add ½ teaspoon of table salt to 1 cup (8 oz.) of warm water.
Importance: A young infant can't nurse or drink from a bottle unless the nose is open.
Note: Most stuffy noses are blocked by dried/sticky mucus and suction alone or blowing the nose cannot remove it.
Use a wet cotton swab to remove mucus that's very sticky.
3. Humidifier: If the air in your home is dry, use a humidifier.
4. Medicines: Most cold medicines are not helpful. They can't remove dried mucus from the nose. Antihistamines are only helpful if your child also has nasal allergies. Antibiotics are not helpful unless your child develops an ear or sinus infection.
5. Treatment for Associated Symptoms of Colds:
Fever - Use acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) or ibuprofen for muscle aches, headaches, or fever > 102°F (39° C).
Sore Throat - Use warm chicken broth for > 1 year old and hard candy for >4 years old.
Cough - Use cough drops for children over 4 years old, and corn syrup (2 to 5 ml) for younger children over 1 year old.
Red Eyes - Rinse eyelids frequently with wet cotton balls.
6. Contagiousness: Your child can return to day care or school after the fever is gone and your child feels well enough to participate in normal activities. For practical purposes, the spread of colds cannot be prevented.
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital is located in Palo Alto, adjacent to Stanford University Hospital, approximately 20 miles north of San Jose, CA and 40 miles south of San Francisco.
