NHS guidance sets out when parents should seek medical advice for a child with a cold, as winter bugs continue to spread across the UK. Colds are extremely common, especially among children, because of the large number of cold viruses in circulation and because young children have no prior immunity to any of them.
Over time, children gradually build up resistance and tend to have fewer colds, with most clearing up within two weeks in younger children.
How to care for a child with a cold
If a child develops a cold, parents should make sure they stay well hydrated and encourage the whole family to wash their hands frequently to help stop the virus spreading. If the child has a high temperature and appears distressed, or is experiencing pain or discomfort, children's paracetamol or ibuprofen may provide relief — though children with asthma might not be suitable for ibuprofen, so it is worth consulting a pharmacist, GP or health visitor beforehand.
Saline nasal drops can help to loosen dried mucus and relieve a blocked nose. Parents who are unsure should seek advice from a pharmacist, GP or health visitor. Children under 6 should not be given over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants, unless a GP or pharmacist has specifically recommended them.
When to call 111 or see a GP
According to NHS advice, parents should call 111 or see a GP if their child has a sore throat for more than 3 days, a high temperature (or feels hot, cold or shivery) and is generally unwell. They should also seek medical help if the child has a cough and a high temperature, or feels hot, cold or shivery, as this could be a chest infection.
Parents should also contact a GP if a child's cough lasts for more than three weeks, or if it persists for an extended period, particularly if it is worse at night or triggered by running around, as it could indicate asthma. Medical advice is also needed if a child has an earache that does not begin to improve after three days, or if hearing loss is suspected following an ear infection.
When to go to A&E or call 999
Parents should go to A&E or call 999 if a child has a sore throat so severe that they are unable to swallow fluids or saliva, or if they have any difficulty breathing. This also applies if a child has a cough or other problems that mean they are struggling to breathe, or if they have croup — a distinctive barking cough with a harsh sound when breathing in (stridor) — and their symptoms are severe and they are struggling to breathe.
