A runny, itchy nose and a scratchy sore throat coupled with a mild fever – most children get affected by these symptoms especially at the start of winter or spring. This is the commonest infection that leads to most number of missed days from school. You’ve guessed it right – this is the COMMON COLD.

It is very normal for children to have about 6 to 10 episodes of common cold in a year. This is because they are often in close contact with each other in daycare centers and schools. In families with many school going children, every child can have up to 12 episodes of common cold per year.

The common cold is a viral infection of the lining of the nose, sinuses and throat. Of the different viruses that cause common colds, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and coronaviruses are the most common causative agents. These viruses spread from person to person through inhaling infected air droplets after a person coughs or sneezes or touching objects on which infected droplets have settled like door handles and shared toys. Common colds are contagious in the first 2 days after symptoms start to show.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of a common cold start to appear in the first 3 days after getting infected by the virus. The first symptoms that appear are sore throat and a runny nose. This is followed by sneezing, a mild fever and a mild cough. Initially, nasal secretions are watery, clear and large in amount but as days go by, they become thicker, opaque, yellow green in color and less in amount.

These symptoms often last for 4 to 10 days from the onset of infection. However, a mild cough may persist even into the second week after the infection.

If your child starts to cough up a lot of mucus, is unusually tired, short of breath, can’t tolerate taking foods or liquids, has worsening throat pain or fever or headache or develops a earache, it is advisable to visit the doctor immediately.

The signs and symptoms of a common cold are usually sufficient for doctors to diagnose the infection. Additional lab tests are usually not required to aid in diagnosis.

In some instances, doctors may prefer to do a nasal swab test to detect the causative virus. In the event of severe throat congestion or enlarged tonsils at the back of the throat, a throat swab may also be performed to rule out bacterial tonsillitis.

The infection usually subsides on its own within a week of onset of symptoms regardless of whether treatment has been given. The key to recovery from a common cold is rest, staying warm and hydration with plenty of fluids. Over the counter medications can aid in relieving symptoms of a common cold but do not cure common cold itself.

For symptomatic relief, the following medications or methods are safe for children:

  • Saline nasal drops, nasal decongestants and a cool mist humidifier help to loosen nasal secretions and make it easier to expel them.
    • Steam inhalation and hot steam vaporizers are not recommended for use especially for children as there is a high risk of hot water splashes and burns.
  • Antihistamines provide relief from a dry runny nose
  • A warm bath, heating pads, paracetamol or ibuprofen helps to relieve body aches and reduce fever.
    • Aspirin should never be given to children or teens, as such use has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.
  • A severe cough that interferes with sleep or causes great discomfort can be treated with a cough suppressant.

Antibiotics are not useful in treating common colds even if the child has thick, colored mucus since these medications are only effective against bacteria and not viruses causing common cold.

Zinc and vitamin C supplements are often used for aiding in recovery from common cold. However, there are no large-scale clinical trials to prove their effectiveness.

Continuing regular activities or going to school won’t make a cold get worse, but it will increase the likelihood that the cold will spread to classmates or friends. So, you might want to put some daily routines aside until your child is feeling better.

A common cold may progress to cause a bacterial infection of the middle ear or sinusitis. Children are more likely to develop this complication owing to the anatomic structure of their ear, nose, and throat. Children with asthma are more likely to develop an asthma attack while having a common cold.

PREVENTION

So many types of viruses can cause a common cold. There is no specific vaccine to protect against these viruses but taking some simple measures can help prevent the infection.

  • Avoid exposing children to secondhand smoke
  • Ensure that they wash their hands well and often
  • Always encourage sneezing or coughing into a tissue or their elbow, not into their hands
  • Ensure that children do not share towels, drinking glasses, or eating utensils with someone who has a cold

REFERENCES

  1. Kronman M, Crowell C, Vora S. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection. Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics 2019;8: p391-392.
  2. Jaume F, Valls-Mateus M, Mullol J. Common Cold and Acute Rhinosinusitis: Up-to-Date Management in 2020. Current Allergy Asthma Reports 2020;20(7):28. doi: 10.1007/s11882-020-00917-5. PMID: 32495003; PMCID: PMC7266914.