Doctor! My child’s cough and cold are just not going away! I have been to two other pediatricians over the last two weeks, they have prescribed what they said were good antibiotics, but the cough and cold are still present, though marginally better. I am at my wit’s end; what should I do?

Have you not been through this and wondered whether your child needed stronger antibiotics? Well, the facts of the matter are [1]:

• Common Cold: Most kids take 15 days to get better.
• Cough: It takes almost 25 days for almost all kids to get better.
• Earache: Most get better within 7-8 days of seeing their doctor.
• Sore Throat: Typically lasts 2-7 days from when they see their doctor.

Mind you, these children were treated only with medicines that gave them symptomatic relief, or one group was given just a placebo and one group nothing at all, and they all had similar results!

Should you give antibiotics?

Antibiotics are not required for most children with these common symptoms and can be harmful.

1. Since the most common causes of these symptoms are viral illnesses, antibiotics do not act on viruses.
2. Every medicine has an effect, and every medicine has side effects. Why risk side effects when there is not going to be any effect?
3. Worse, the bugs that would have responded to the antibiotics (if they were culprits) get exposure to the antibiotics and can develop antibiotic resistance. A double whammy! When you need antibiotics, we realize that they do not act.

Should you give any of the over-the-counter products for cough and cold?

No, certainly not! Not only have they questionable benefits, but they may also be downright dangerous!

So what should you do?

• See your doctor – she will determine whether your child has a streptococcal throat infection (a special germ that requires appropriate antibiotic therapy).
• Keep your child well hydrated – give plenty of fluids, especially water, to prevent secretions from drying out and keep them loose so they can be expelled.
• If secretions are very thick, dry, and crusted, then first spray the nostril with a clear saline solution like Nasomist or Nasoclear solutions and then:
• If the child cannot expel the secretions by herself, use a mucus aspirator. Do ask your pediatrician to demonstrate how to use it.

When should you see your doctor?

• Your child has a fever greater than 101ºF (38.4ºC) that lasts more than three days.
• Nasal congestion and discharge do not improve or worsen over the course of 14 days.
• His eyes become red or develop a yellow discharge.
• The child points to the ear or pulls at it, or there is any discharge from it!

1. Using Over-the-Counter Cough and Cold Products in Children