What is the first thing you think of when your child comes home with a sore throat?
Oh no! They’re coming down with a cold!
Did you know? On average, kids under age 3 catch six to eight colds a year.
Why do children catch so many colds? According to Carol J. Baker, M.D., a professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston: "We think that since most children are encountering viruses for the first time, their immune systems aren't able to kill them as quickly as when they encounter them again."
Cold Symptoms
Colds typically last 6 to 14 days. "They're most contagious during the first three days of symptoms, but you can still catch a cold from someone who's had it for two weeks," explains David Jaffe, M.D., director of emergency medicine at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
- Sore Throat. First sign of a cold, can last approximately 5 to 9 days.
- Cough. Can linger up to 3 weeks after the cold has passed.
- Runny Nose. Can begin between day 1-3 and last up to 14 days.
- Fever. Typical temperatures of 101 to 103 degrees F for the first two or three days can be considered normal. Any fever can be dangerous to small children, don’t hesitate to call your pediatrician.
Cold Myths
- Catching a cold is by getting the virus on your hands and then touching your nose or eyes.
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