Recognizing a baby with a cold

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Pediatrician - Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. Dr. Thanh has worked for 25 years in the treatment of neonatal pediatric diseases.
Newborn cold is one of the common situations in the community. Signs of a cold in babies can vary widely and share many similarities with other respiratory illnesses, including bacterial infections.
Treating colds in babies doesn't require antibiotics like bacterial infections do. Most cases of colds in infants can be cared for at home, but it is important to take your child to a medical center when the warning signs appear.

1. Overview of colds in babies

All babies are born with an immature immune system and it takes time to fully develop. Therefore, infants are one of the susceptible subjects susceptible to viral infections, which cause colds.
Currently, there are more than 200 viruses that can cause colds, but most of them have the effect of improving and raising children's resistance. Newborns get colds at various times of the year, averaging about 8 to 10 times a year during the first 2 years of life. The frequency of the disease decreases as children get older.
Common colds in babies are not usually dangerous, but they can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia or acute croup. Infants with colds between the ages of 2 and 3 months should see their pediatrician, especially if they have a high fever.

2. Signs of a cold in babies

Often, the first sign that a child has a cold is a runny nose. The secretions from the nasal mucosa will be thin and during the onset of the disease will gradually become thickened and yellow-green in color after a few days. This feature is normal in the course of the disease and does not mean that colds in infants are getting worse.
Some other signs of a cold in babies include:
Crying Fever Coughing, a lot at night Sneezing, Poor feeding, Refusing to breastfeed or bottle feeding Problems sleeping

Colds in babies have similar symptoms to many other illnesses such as the flu, croup, and pneumonia. This makes it difficult to accurately diagnose a cold.

3. Causes of colds in babies

Another name for a cold in babies is viral upper respiratory tract infection. The cause of the disease is not related to the bacteria and the disease does not respond to antibiotics.
When bringing a child to the doctor, pediatricians often ask for blood, urine, or eye discharge to determine if the cause is a virus or bacteria. Bacterial inflammation sometimes occurs soon after a viral infection. So some complications from a cold can include pneumonia, pharyngitis, and otitis media.
Infants with colds are quite common in clinical practice. Disease-causing viruses appear in the air and on surfaces for a short period of time. This makes it possible for the spread of the disease to happen even to people who have not had direct contact with the sick child. Infants who are around older children are at higher risk of catching a cold.
Breastfed babies have better immunity than formula fed babies. Breast milk contains many antibodies, white blood cells and enzymes necessary for the baby. These are all factors that help prevent infection. Breastfed babies inherit special immunity to diseases that the mother has had in the past. However, this does not mean that babies will be completely immune to colds.

4. When to bring a baby with a cold to the doctor?

Infants between the ages of 2 and 3 months should be referred to a pediatrician as soon as they show signs of a suspected cold. This helps children avoid other serious complications as well as makes parents feel more secure.
Fever is one of the body's responses to a cold. However, a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher in infants 2 to 3 months old is a warning sign of the need for medical attention. Older children with colds with a high fever above 39 degrees should also be taken to a medical facility. In addition, if the high fever persists for more than 5 days, parents should also take the child to the doctor regardless of the child's age.
Some other signs and symptoms warn of a serious medical condition that parents need to know such as:
Red rash on the skin Vomiting Diarrhea Persistent cough, producing a lot of sputum

Green or bloody sputum in sputum Difficulty breathing, wheezing Signs of chest indrawing Fever lasting for 5 to 7 days Ear scratching, or other signs suggestive of discomfort or pain in areas of the upper body body. Signs suggestive of dehydration such as less urine output Poor or no suckling Cyanosis of the tips of the fingers or lips Parents are the ones who care the most about the child, so it is easy to detect abnormalities. As soon as your child has strange symptoms, you should call your pediatrician immediately to rule out other conditions that are more serious than the common cold.

5. What to do when a baby has a cold?

Home treatments can be used to treat the common cold with the aim of helping your child feel better. Some of the measures parents can take include:
Give your baby plenty of fluids, including breast milk and formula. Parents can give the baby a little more water if the baby is over 6 months old. Aspirate secretions from the nose with physiological saline and a specialized suction bulb. Use an air humidifier to raise the humidity of the surrounding air. Talk to your doctor about choosing a cool humidifier or a hot one. Warmers need to be stored according to the instructions because of the risk of burns to children. Some measures that should not be taken when a child has a cold include:
Antibiotics do not work against viruses and should not be used when treating a cold. Over-the-counter fever reducers such as Tylenol (eg Tylenol Cold and Flu) for children: Not recommended for use in children under 3 months of age unless directed by a doctor. Consult a pediatrician before giving any over-the-counter medicine to an infant under 1 year of age. These medicines are not usually recommended for use in children who are vomiting. Aspirin should never be used in infants or young children. Cough suppressants are not recommended for children under 2 years of age. Babies should not be placed on their stomachs to sleep, even if they have a stuffy nose.

Currently, there is no specific treatment for colds in infants. Most children will recover on their own over time. The best thing a parent or caregiver can do is make the child feel comfortable and at ease, allowing the illness to slowly heal.
Newborns from 0 - 6 months old are generally susceptible to respiratory diseases, respiratory infections and gastrointestinal infections.... To protect the health of children, parents should do It is good practice to exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first 6 months (if possible) and get vaccinated on time. As soon as a child shows symptoms such as anorexia, fatigue, and crying, the child needs to go to the hospital to be consulted by a specialist for monitoring and treatment. The pediatric department at Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for receiving and examining diseases that infants and young children are susceptible to: viral fever, bacterial fever, otitis media, pneumonia in children , cold... With a system of modern facilities, medical equipment, sterile space, minimizing the impact as well as the risk of disease spread, Vinmec will bring satisfaction to you. Customers and are highly appreciated by experts in the industry with:
Gathering a team of leading pediatricians: including leading experts, with high professional qualifications (professors, associate professors, doctors, etc.) Doctor, Master), rich experience, worked in big hospitals such as Bach Mai, 108.. The doctors are all well-trained, professional, have heart - reach, understand young psychology. In addition to domestic pediatric specialists, the Department of Pediatrics also has the participation of foreign experts (Japan, Singapore, Australia, USA) who are always pioneers in applying the latest and most effective treatment regimens. . Comprehensive services: In the field of Pediatrics, Vinmec provides a series of continuous medical examination and treatment services from Newborn to Pediatric and Vaccine,... according to international standards to help parents take care of their baby's health from birth to childhood. Advanced techniques: Vinmec has successfully deployed many specialized techniques to make the treatment of difficult diseases in pediatrics more effective: neurosurgery - skull, stem cell transplant blood in cancer treatment. Professional care: In addition to understanding children's psychology, Vinmec also pays special attention to the children's play space, helping them to play comfortably and get used to the hospital's environment, cooperate in treatment, improve the efficiency of medical treatment.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Recommended video:


Distinguishing Covid-19 from flu and cold