Cough & Cold Treatment
The best treatment for cough and cold is prevention. Wash your hands well before touching your face, especially when in public. Avoid getting within 6 feet of others, especially if they are sick.
Stay up to date on all childhood vaccinations, as well as a yearly flu vaccine, as long as you do not have a medical condition that compromises your immune system, which would make vaccines contraindicated. Avoid vaping and smoking of any kind, as this puts you at risk for more severe respiratory diseases and also compromises your immune system. If you do become ill with a cough or cold, most of the time it is safe to treat the symptoms at home. Over-the-counter cough and cold medications are generally not recommended, as they have no proven effectiveness and have been shown to be especially harmful to children under 6 years old, persons with asthma, adults with hypertension, and persons with other chronic respiratory illnesses.
In general, viral respiratory illnesses have to run their course. If fever is present, it is advised to treat the fever with Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Motrin (ibuprofen). Children under 6 months old should not be given ibuprofen, only acetaminophen as directed on the medication bottle. Additionally, drinking plenty of fluids is important, especially water. Pedialyte is also a good way to stay hydrated and avoid excessive sugar intake. Gatorade and other sports drinks tend to contain large amounts of sugar and should be avoided as they can cause diarrhea or excessively high blood sugars in diabetics. G2 or Gatorade Zero are good options for hydration, but it is also important to drink water. Most minor cough and cold illnesses will resolve within 7 to 14 days. Fever with these minor illnesses usually resolves within 3 to 5 days.
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For Allergies & Cold Symptoms
If the illness is caused by influenza or COVID-19, fever could persist for up to 7 to 10 days. In the absence of fever, respiratory illness can sometimes be caused by allergies. A good over-the-counter medication for allergies and cold symptoms that is safe for most people, as well as children 2 years and older, is Zyrtec (cetirizine). Follow the dosing guidelines on the medication bottle.
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- Other helpful products for cough in persons 2 years and older are hot teas with honey.
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- Contact Ask the Nurse for dosages for little ones under 2 years.
When is professional medical care needed?
Any infant under 3 months old with fever (temperature measured at greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit) needs to be seen by a medical provider immediately. In general, for other kids and adults, any illness or the following symptoms lasting longer than 10 to 14 days without improvement is cause to consult a medical provider:
Additionally, any condition that improves after some days and then worsens should be checked by a medical provider.
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References and Additional Resources
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 16). Manage common cold.
https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/treatment/index.html%20 -
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Preventing and managing common cold [PDF]. Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/common-cold/media/pdfs/2024/04/CommonCold_fact_sheet_508.pdf
Notice: This Blog contains recommended products from Ask the Nurse Amazon Affiliate Link.