A paediatric nurse has explained why toddlers at nursery seem to catch one cold after another and has outlined when parents should seek medical advice.
Chris Newland, a paediatric advanced nurse practitioner working in primary care, shared his advice with his 7,000 followers. He said: "Is your toddler at nursery and it feels like they just permanently have a cough and a snotty nose? Well, here's what might be going on and when to get checked... So your toddler's at nursery and they're just getting one cold after another. This is actually a really common story I hear from parents at my clinic."
"And when you think about it, you've got these tiny people running around, mixing together at nursery, having a grand old time, covering themselves and each other in snot, spit and mucus. So partially, this is their immune system experiencing these viruses for the first time. And research suggests that children this age typically can get around a dozen colds a year, which is why it feels like they're just getting one cold after the other."
How long do colds last?
According to the health expert, a standard cold typically lasts approximately seven to 10 days, with a cough and runny nose frequently being the most common symptoms. While the runny nose may subside, the cough could continue to persist for up to a fortnight longer, and before you know it you're contending with a bunged-up child once again, suggesting a new virus has taken hold.
He noted that NHS guidance states most coughs should resolve within three to four weeks. Provided they're eating, drinking and playing normally, there's little cause for concern.
When to seek help
Nevertheless, if it persists beyond three weeks and continues to recur, it's time to seek help. He went on: "[If] the cough just keeps coming back, it's frequently waking them up at night or making them vomit. They just don't seem right in themselves. They're not growing or putting on weight as you would expect or you just have concerns. And you can always call 111 for advice if you're worried. A baby under six months of age, if they have a cough, any difficulty in feeding, you're going to have a low threshold for getting them checked over by your GP or getting urgent advice from 111."
Chris urged parents to act immediately if they notice any difficulty in their toddler's breathing or observe discolouration around the lips and sucking in at the throat, between the ribs or below the area. Describing it as a "medical emergency," he advised parents to call an ambulance and take them to the emergency department without delay.
"Most importantly, you know your child better, if you feel there's something not quite right, get them checked over," he concluded. As a parent, it is vital to always trust your instincts. If something feels off, or your child is behaving differently in any way, seek professional advice as a matter of urgency. You can ring 111 for guidance, or 999 in an emergency. Alternatively, take them to A&E for immediate care.
