What is the treatment of cold in children ?
Patient: My 7 year old daughter got a cold last week. Me and my son have the same cold but our has not progressed the way hers has. She has had a fever every morning with a headache, sore to move her eyes (mostly her left eye), and a dry cough. She started antibiotics 3 mornings ago but last night she started getting leg cramps. This morning her fever was up to 103 and her legs are very sore. She has a dry cough that hurts her throat and seems to have some laryngitis when she talks. I gave her motrin and her fever went down to 100.7. I have had her stretching her leg muscles to try to ease the pain from them cramping. I am concerned because her symptoms seem to be getting worse instead of progressively better Doctor: Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.Fever of few days without any localizing signs could as well a viral illness. Usually rather than fever, what is more important is the activity of the child, in between 2 fever episodes on the same day. If the kid is active and playing around when there is no fever, it is probably viral illness and it doesn't require antibiotics at all. Once viral fever comes it will there for 4-7 days. So do not worry about duration if the kid is active.Cough and cold are viral 95% of the times in children. For cold you can use anti-allergics like cetirizine and for nose block, saline nasal decongestants will do. Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose (max ceiling dose 500mg) every 4-6th hourly, that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.For cold you can use Cetrizine at 0.25mg/kg/dose every 12 hourly for 3 days.For nasal block, plain saline nasal drops will do, every 4-6th hourly to relive nasal congestion.Hope my answer was helpful for you.  I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed).,