Don't give lozenges or hard candy to children younger than 6 years. Combat stuffiness. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve stuffiness and congestion. In infants, experts recommend putting several saline drops into one nostril, then gently suctioning that nostril with a bulb syringe. Saline nasal sprays may be used in older children. Relieve pain. For children 6 months or younger, give only acetaminophen. For children older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Ask your child's doctor for the correct dose for your child's age and weight. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children. Try over-the-counter OTC cold and cough medications.
For adults and children age 5 and older, OTC decongestants, antihistamines and pain relievers might offer some symptom relief. However, they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. Experts agree that these shouldn't be given to younger children. Overuse and misuse of these medications can cause serious damage.
Talk with your child's doctor before giving any medications. Take medications only as directed. Some cold remedies contain multiple ingredients, such as a decongestant plus a pain reliever, so read the labels of cold medications you take to make sure you're not taking too much of any medication. The list of ineffective cold remedies is long. Some of the more common ones that don't work include:. In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on some popular cold remedies, such as vitamin C and echinacea.
Here's an update on some common alternative remedies:. Vitamin C. It appears that taking vitamin C won't usually help the average person prevent colds. However, some studies have found that taking vitamin C before cold symptoms start may shorten the length of time you have symptoms.
Vitamin C may benefit people at high risk of colds due to frequent exposure — for example, children who attend group child care during the winter. Study results on whether echinacea prevents or shortens colds are mixed. Some studies show no benefit. Others show some reduction in the severity and duration of cold symptoms when taken in the early stages of a cold. Different types of echinacea used in different studies may have contributed to the mixed results.
Echinacea seems to be most effective if you take it when you notice cold symptoms and continue it for seven to 10 days. It appears to be safe for healthy adults, but it can interact with many drugs. Check with your doctor before taking echinacea or any other supplement. Several studies have suggested that zinc supplements may reduce the length of a cold. But research has turned up mixed results about zinc and colds. Some studies show that zinc lozenges or syrup reduce the length of a cold by about one day, especially when taken within 24 to 48 hours of the first signs and symptoms of a cold.
Zinc also has potentially harmful side effects. Talk to your doctor before considering the use of zinc to prevent or reduce the length of colds. Although usually minor, colds can make you feel miserable. It's tempting to try the latest remedy, but the best thing you can do is take care of yourself. Rest, drink fluids and keep the air around you moist.
Colds are caused by viruses and do not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics will not help patients get better any faster, neither will they prevent patients from passing it on to other people. An article published in the BMJ said that fear of complications is not a good enough reason to prescribe antibiotics for the common cold. Echinacea , also known as purple coneflower is a native North American wild flower.
Indigenous peoples use it as an herbal remedy for a variety of illnesses and conditions. Studies have produced, and continue to produce, conflicting results. As an example, a study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases , found that the herbal remedy reduced the duration of a cold by an average of 1. Sweating and runny noses are common when people have a cold; these symptoms can cause dehydration. This loss of fluids needs to be constantly replaced. The best drink is water.
When someone has a cold, they should drink plenty of water. Remember that coffee and caffeinated sodas can cause dehydration — so consider avoiding them. Experts believe that chicken soup really does help relieve the symptoms of colds.
It is believed to inhibit the movement of neutrophils, immune system cells that cause inflammation , and also the movement of mucus. Getting plenty of rest will not only help alleviate some of the symptoms, and make people feel less miserable, it may also reduce the duration of their cold.
Rest helps the immune system fight off the viral infection more effectively. Good hygiene is important to prevent the spread of infection. Stay away from work or school while not feeling well. Cover the mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw it away into a trash can immediately. Make sure to wash hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. If there are no tissues and a person coughs or sneezes, doctors recommend doing so into the inner part of the elbow, because that part of the body does not then contaminate surfaces.
Salt water gargle — making a solution consisting of one-quarter teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water and gargling it may provide some temporary relief for sore throat symptoms.
A saline solution can help draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the back of the throat, resulting in less pain. Thick mucus may also become loosened, making it easier to expel.
Nasal saline drops — available from pharmacies, these may help young babies with nasal congestions. Nasal saline drops may be a useful alternative to salt solutions for gargling getting babies and very young children to gargle is virtually impossible.
Do not use steam inhalation with small children — there is a risk of scalding. Small children may benefit from standing close to a hot shower and breathing in the steam. Previous studies have had mixed results regarding the benefits of zinc for fighting colds.
Most positive studies say the zinc should be taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms. Canadian researchers recently found that zinc tends to work better with adults than with children; they added that adverse effects, especially when higher doses are taken, are common.
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Updated by: Linda J. Editorial team. How to treat the common cold at home. Treating Your Cold. Acetaminophen Tylenol and ibuprofen Advil, Motrin help lower fever and relieve muscle aches. Do not use aspirin. Check the label for the proper dose. Call your provider if you need to take these medicines more than 4 times per day or for more than 2 or 3 days.
They are not recommended for children under age 6. Talk to your provider before giving your child OTC cold medicine, which can have serious side effects. Coughing is your body's way of getting mucus out of your lungs. So use cough syrups only when your cough becomes too painful. Throat lozenges or sprays for your sore throat.
Drink plenty of fluids, get enough sleep, and stay away from secondhand smoke. Wheezing can be a common symptom of a cold if you have asthma. Use your rescue inhaler as prescribed if you are wheezing.
See your provider immediately if it becomes hard to breathe. Although not proven to be helpful, most home remedies are safe for most people.
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