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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffA common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract — your baby's nose and throat. Nasal congestion and a runny nose are the primary signs of common cold in babies. Babies are especially susceptible to the common cold, in part because they're often around other older children who don't always wash their hands. In fact, within the first two years of life, most babies have eight to 10 colds.
Treatment for the common cold in babies involves taking steps to ease their symptoms, such as providing plenty of fluids and keeping the air moist. Very young infants must see a doctor at the first sign of the common cold, because they're at greater risk of complications such as croup or pneumonia.
- Stopping germs at home, work and school. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/germstopper/home_work_school.htm. Accessed Aug. 5, 2008.
- Common colds and young children. American Academy of Pediatrics. http://www.aap.org/pubed/ZZZN097VA7C.htm?&sub_cat=107. Accessed Aug. 5, 2008.
- Pappas DE, et al. Patient information: The common cold in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2008.
- Common cold. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/commonCold. Accessed Aug. 6, 2008.
- Klein JO, et al. Patient information: Ear infections (otitis media) in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Aug. 6, 2008.
- Public health advisory: Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/advisory/cough_cold_2008.htm. Accessed Aug. 7, 2008.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Aug. 8, 2008.
- Feeding infants: A guide for use in the child nutrition programs. U.S. Department of Agriculture. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/feeding_infants.pdf. Accessed Aug. 15, 2008.
- FDA statement following CHPA's announcement on nonprescription over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01899.html. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
- Statement from CHPA on the voluntary label updates to oral OTC children's cough and cold medicines. Consumer Healthcare Products Association. http://www.chpa-info.org/10_07_08_PedCC.aspx. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
