cure for the common cold
- Thread starter jimaug87
- Start date
"Time cures all." That may not always be true, but in the case of the common cold, it's pretty close. Medicine can't cure the common cold, but it can be used to relieve such symptoms as muscle aches, headache, and fever. You can give your child acetaminophen or ibuprofen based on the package recommendations for age or weight.
However, aspirin should never be given to children younger than 12, and all children and teens under age 19 should avoid aspirin during viral illnesses. Use of aspirin by kids or teens with colds or other viral illness may increase the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.
Although you may be tempted to give your child over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines to try to ease the cold symptoms, there's little or no evidence to support that they actually work. In fact, decongestants can cause hallucinations, irritability, and irregular heartbeats in infants and shouldn't be used in children younger than 2 without first consulting a doctor.
Some ways you can help ease cold discomfort include:
* saltwater drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion (you can buy these - also called saline nose drops - at any pharmacy)
* a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture
* petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness
* hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat (for kids older than 3 years)
* a warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains
* steam from a hot shower to help your child breathe more easily
But what about chicken soup? There's no real proof that eating this soothing, warm concoction can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. Why? Chicken soup contains a mucus-thinning amino acid called cysteine, and some research shows that chicken soup helps control congestion-causing white cells, called neutrophils.
The best plan, though, is not to worry about whether to "feed a cold" or "starve a fever." Just make sure your child eats when hungry and drinks plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the fluids lost during fever or mucus production. Avoid giving your child caffeinated beverages, though, which can cause frequent urination and, therefore, increase the risk of dehydration.
However, aspirin should never be given to children younger than 12, and all children and teens under age 19 should avoid aspirin during viral illnesses. Use of aspirin by kids or teens with colds or other viral illness may increase the risk of developing Reye syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can be fatal.
Although you may be tempted to give your child over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants and antihistamines to try to ease the cold symptoms, there's little or no evidence to support that they actually work. In fact, decongestants can cause hallucinations, irritability, and irregular heartbeats in infants and shouldn't be used in children younger than 2 without first consulting a doctor.
Some ways you can help ease cold discomfort include:
* saltwater drops in the nostrils to relieve nasal congestion (you can buy these - also called saline nose drops - at any pharmacy)
* a cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture
* petroleum jelly on the skin under the nose to soothe rawness
* hard candy or cough drops to relieve sore throat (for kids older than 3 years)
* a warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains
* steam from a hot shower to help your child breathe more easily
But what about chicken soup? There's no real proof that eating this soothing, warm concoction can cure a cold, but sick people have been swearing by it for more than 800 years. Why? Chicken soup contains a mucus-thinning amino acid called cysteine, and some research shows that chicken soup helps control congestion-causing white cells, called neutrophils.
The best plan, though, is not to worry about whether to "feed a cold" or "starve a fever." Just make sure your child eats when hungry and drinks plenty of fluids like water or juice to help replace the fluids lost during fever or mucus production. Avoid giving your child caffeinated beverages, though, which can cause frequent urination and, therefore, increase the risk of dehydration.
Rest >>>>>
Lol, I think it must have been copied, all the stuff about your child eating well and not giving children caffeinated drinks doesn't seem very relevent to the topic