Treating the Common Cold in Children

Most of the time, a cold is a mild illness and the symptoms are better within a week or two. Call the doctor if your child

• is getting worse instead of better or has symptoms that last longer than two weeks
• is having trouble breathing
• is not drinking and has not made any urine in 6-8 hours
• seems too sleepy or tired (lethargic) at those times when he usually would be awake and active
• has mild fever for more than 3-5 days, has high fever, or starts to get fever after several days of cold symptoms
• gets ear pain, or any other new pain.

When your child can go back to school/daycare

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Online Medical Reviewer: Faculty of Harvard Medical School Date Last Reviewed: 10/3/2006 Date Last Modified: 8/31/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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