Helping children get through cold and flu

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Children are particularly vulnerable to catch cold and flu. They are likely to come down with the common cold eight or more times every year. This is because a child’s immune system has not yet fully developed to protect itself from hundreds of variants of cold viruses¹. As winter approaches, parents should get ready to provide extra care to their children. It’s the season when children are more susceptible to get sick with cold and flu.

How to tell cold from flu

The cold and the flu show a number of similar symptoms, but a few tell-tale signs differentiate one from the other. The cold develops slower than the flu. Since the cold virus targets the nose, throat and sinuses, the symptoms manifest in these parts of the body. Infected children get fits of sneezing and coughing. They suffer from runny noses, blocked nasal passages and a sore throat. This is usually accompanied by fever as the body tries to fight off the infection².

On the other hand, the flu attacks suddenly and its symptoms are more severe than the cold. Afflicted children come down with a runny nose, dry cough and a sore throat, similar to the cold symptoms. In addition, they feel miserable and tired with headaches, muscle and joint aches. They have fever and chills, and may even experience an upset stomach and loss of appetite³.

Home care for sick children

It is essential that sick children remain hydrated, so make them drink more fluids⁴, especially water. Ensure that they rest comfortably at home to help their immune system fend off the cold or flu virus⁵. Maintain normal room temperature and proper ventilation in their bedrooms. If they are running a fever, light clothing and light bedding are best. Elevating the pillow helps them breathe more easily.

Right medicine for children

Paracetamol helps ease the aches, fever, teething pain and discomfort caused by colds and flu. There are over-the-counter products formulated specially for children, such as Calpol® medicines with Paracetamol that relieve pain and fever. Calpol® Infant Suspension is mild enough for babies as young as 2 months. Its strawberry flavour and syrup formulation make the medicine more palatable to children than the tablet form. CALPOL® Six Plus is prescribed for children six years old and up. Read the product label carefully to administer the right dosage to children. For more information, visit http://www.calpol.co.uk.

With the common cold, children usually feel better after five to seven days⁶. The good news is that as children grow older, their stronger immune system will cope much better with viruses.

¹WebMD. 2009. Children’s and Parenting Health Centre: Common Childhood Illnesses. [online] Available at: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/common-childhood-illnesses [Accessed 15 October 2012].

²NetDoctor. 2012. Cold or Flu? [online] Available at: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/interactivetests/coldorflu.php [Accessed 15 October 2012].

³NetDoctor. 2012. Cold or Flu? [online] Available at: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/interactivetests/coldorflu.php [Accessed 15 October 2012].

⁴WebMD. 2009. Children’s and Parenting Health Centre: Common Childhood Illnesses. [online] Available at: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/common-childhood-illnesses [Accessed 15 October 2012].

⁵BBC Health. 2012. Colds and Flu in Children. [online] Available at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/coldsandflu2.shtml [Accessed 15 October 2012].

⁶WebMD. 2009. Children’s and Parenting Health Centre: Common Childhood Illnesses. [online] Available at: http://www.webmd.boots.com/children/common-childhood-illnesses [Accessed 15 October 2012].