Treating Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

Colds develop from a virus which attacks the body and is transferred to others via touch or through the air(cough). Although it is called a “cold,” it is not is not caused as a result of air conditioning, heating, wind or cold. An URI is a phenomenon that is especially common in winter and results in a runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, and sometimes has associated fever, sore throat, redness in the eyes or hoarseness. Children tend to get infected with viruses of this kind a few times a year.

1. Treatment for a runny nose
Rhinitis or a runny nose helps the body to remove the virus, but often can cause difficulty breathing at night, difficulty with eating, and fussiness. (Especially with very small babies, who tend to exclusively breathe through the nose). Therefore when the nose is blocked, it is recommended to use salt water drops (Strimer, Atrobini, normal saline 0.9%) or you can prepare at home: use a glass of warm water and add a half teaspoon salt.

For a baby, place three drops of salt water in each nostril, wait 10 minutes and then suction the fluid out of the nose using a rubber nasal suction that is for use for babies. Then repeat the action the other nostril.

For an older child, have them lay in bed, drip 3 drops into each nostril, wait a minute and then ask him to blow his nose. After a few minutes, perform the same action on the other nostril.
If necessary, you can repeat the treatment several times, each time using more drops until the nose will be completely clean.

2. Other treatments for the common cold
There is a large number of opinions on the topic of treatment for the common cold. One of the more common opinions is that “milk leads to congestion.”

This claim has no scientific basis, and experts in the field do not suggest any change in nutrition for the child who suffers from a cold. Many parents tend to pressure the doctor to give “cough suppressant”, and indeed sometimes the doctor submits and writes a prescription for “cough” syrup. (Indeed, there exist many so-called cough suppressants to buy)However, there is extensive medical literature on these substances and it was found that they are no more effective than tap water or any other placebo substance. These cough remedies often contain vitamin C, Guafenisin or Dextromethorphan.

Several studies have found that zinc pills (for children over 5 years old) may be helpful. However, other studies did not find Zinc supplementation helpful for the common cold.

The most effective relief for cough, codeine is dangerous to use with small children and should not used at all for children under the age of two years. Use of substances containing plants (e.g. ECHINACEA) have not been studied in a scientific fashion, and use of a humidifier has been proven to be non effective.

Recently, treatment of cough with the consumption of a small amount of honey has proven itself effective (Grandma was right!) but remember that honey should not be given to children under the age of 1 years( due to the risk of botulism poisoning).

So what should I do?

For sore throat: throat lozenges (children over the age of four)
For cough: increase drinking hot fluids (tea, cider, lemon juice).
In the case of red-eye: clean with wet cotton with salt water (0.9%). (There does exist ready made eye wipes called Eye Care)

One should call the doctor in the following instances:

• Fever for more than three days (if the baby is under three months then please see the physician immediately with any fever over 38.0)
• Runny nose that lasts more than ten days.
• Difficulty breathing without improvement after basic cold treatments mentioned above.
• If the child is apathetic, lethargic or refusing to breast feed or bottle feed.
• If the child was born prematurely.
• If there is fever and sore throat only, there is a high likelihood of Group A Strep
• If there is throat pain and runny nose, without fever, for more than three days