As a parent, we must aware of the most common illness for our toddler in order to avoid it and know how to treat it.
One of the very most common illnesses among toddler is common cold. According to studies, children catch 8 to nine colds a year. Colds are unavoidable and not serious, but the proper precautions should be taken to prevent complications such as ear infection or a sore throat.
The immune system of our toddlers are still immature that’s why they catch lot of colds and vulnerable to many illnesses. While they are growing, they exploring a lot of things so it’s possible to touch everything and pick up cold virus in their hands. Then put his finger in his mouth or nose or rub in his eyes and the virus now has the chance to come in.
Symptoms of common cold
One of the very most common illnesses among toddler is common cold. According to studies, children catch 8 to nine colds a year. Colds are unavoidable and not serious, but the proper precautions should be taken to prevent complications such as ear infection or a sore throat.
The immune system of our toddlers are still immature that’s why they catch lot of colds and vulnerable to many illnesses. While they are growing, they exploring a lot of things so it’s possible to touch everything and pick up cold virus in their hands. Then put his finger in his mouth or nose or rub in his eyes and the virus now has the chance to come in.
Symptoms of common cold
- Soreness of throat
- Congestion of nasal passages
- Running nose
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Chill
- Rise in temperature
- Aches and pain in the body
- Itchy and watery eyes
- Plenty of liquids. Drinking a lot of water and other liquids can help especially calamansi juice or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and avoid dehydration.- Use saline nasal drops to relief the nasal congestion. Tip his head back and squeeze over the counter saline (salt water) drops into his nostrils to loosen up the mucus, suction out the liquid and mucus a few minutes later with a rubber bulb syringe.
- Use a humidifier or a cool-mist vaporizer to moisten the air in his room. Dry air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat.
- Take your toddler a bath with hot water, close the door and sit in the steamy room for about 15 minutes.
- Get your toddler a plenty of rest and sleep. Elevate the head of your toddler’s mattress by placing a couple of towels between the head of the mattress while sleeping so that he may not have difficulty in breathing.
- Over the counter cold medicine. It is a good idea to ask the suggestion of your pediatrician when your child really needs the medicine especially during the night when you’re child not getting any rest.
- Ear infection
- Difficulty in breathing
- Severe headache
- Fever reaches to 102 F or higher
- Symptoms got worse instead of improving or last for about 10 days or more
- High fever with fatigue and achiness, sweating, chills or colored phlegm
- Vomiting or abdominal pain
- Always wash hands. Most cold and flu virus are spread by direct contact. Teach your child the importance of washing hands.
- Keep your stuff clean. Wash children’s toy after play especially when someone in the family has colds.
- Don’t share glass or drinking utensils among members of the family. Use own glass or disposable cup when someone is sick.
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has cold.
- Always use tissue when sneeze or cough coming then throw it away immediately.
- Drink plenty of liquids. Water and other liquids flushes our system and washing out the poison in our system
