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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffThe first indication of the common cold in a baby is often:
- A congested or runny nose
- Nasal discharge that may be clear at first, but then usually becomes thicker and turns shades of yellow or green
Other signs of a common cold may include:
- A low-grade fever of about 100 F (37.8 C)
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Decreased appetite
- Irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
When to see a doctor
Your baby's immune system will need time to conquer the cold. If your baby has a cold with no complications, it should resolve in seven to 10 days.
If your baby is younger than 2 to 3 months of age, call the doctor at the first sign of illness. For newborns, a common cold can quickly develop into croup, pneumonia or another serious illness. Even without such complications, a stuffy nose can make it difficult for your baby to nurse or drink from a bottle. This can lead to dehydration. As your baby gets older, your doctor can guide you on when your baby needs to be seen by a doctor and when you can treat his or her cold at home.
Most colds are simply a nuisance. But it's important to take your baby's signs and symptoms seriously. If your baby is age 3 months or older, call the doctor if he or she:
- Isn't wetting as many diapers as usual
- Has a temperature higher than 102 F (38.9 C) for one day
- Has a temperature higher than 101 F (38.3 C) for more than three days
- Seems to have ear pain
- Has red eyes or develops yellow eye discharge
- Has a cough for more than one week
- Has thick, green nasal discharge for more than two weeks
- Has any signs or symptoms that worry you
Seek medical help immediately if your baby:
- Refuses to nurse or accept fluids
- Coughs hard enough to cause vomiting or changes in skin color
- Coughs up blood-tinged sputum
- Has difficulty breathing or is bluish around the lips and mouth
- 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.
