What is common cold in children?

It is a highly contagious viral disease that attacks the upper respiratory tract, that is, the nose and throat. Babies may have eight to ten colds a year due to being with other children and adults.

A common cold can be caused by one of more than 200 viruses. Infection occurs through the mouth, eyes, or nose by coming into direct contact with sick people or contaminated surfaces.

There are a series of conditions that can cause your baby to contract the common cold, such as:

• Winter season.
• Exposure to infected people.
• Weak and developing immune systems.

The symptoms appear in the first days of infection, with the following signs:

• Nasal congestion.
• Migraine.
• Sore throat.
• Sneezing.
• Lack of appetite.
• High fever.
• Irritability.
• Yellow or green nasal discharge.
• Coughing fits.

Common colds usually go away within one to two weeks, but sometimes they can be complicated by the presence of other conditions, such as:

• Bronchiolitis.
• Laryngitis.
• Pneumonia.
• Otitis.
• Wheezing.
• Sinusitis.

Once the pediatrician analyzes your baby’s symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and, if deemed necessary, perform a pharyngeal exudate.

Treatment consists of relieving symptoms by:

• Fluid therapy.
• Nasal decongestants.
• Humidifiers.

At the Pediatric Center, we provide specialized care to children from birth to adulthood, through our pediatric care, oncology, neurology, and cardiology services at the level of the best medical centers in the world.

Pediatrics Center
Internal medicine
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory
Cancer Center