Your child has been treated for a Cough and/or Cold. They have been thoroughly examined and are now considered fit to be discharged. The following will aid their recovery.
Care Instructions for your Childs Cough or Cold
Coughs and colds are usually caused by infection with a germ called a virus. Typically, symptoms are worse in the first 2–3 days, and then ease over the next few days as the immune system clears the virus. An irritating cough may linger for up to 2–4 weeks after other symptoms have gone.
Symptoms:
- The common symptoms are a cough and a runny nose. The cough is often worse at night. Coughing does not damage the lungs
- In addition, a child may have a raised temperature (fever), a sore throat, headache, tiredness, and be off their food. Sometimes children may be sick (vomit) after a bout of coughing
- A build-up of mucus behind the eardrums may cause dulled hearing or mild earache
Treatment:
- Antibiotics do not kill viruses, so are of no use for common coughs and colds
- Junior paracetamol or ibuprofen may ease aches and pains, headaches, and fever (check the packet for dose and frequency)
- Make sure your child has enough to drink. Low body fluid (dehydration) may develop if a child has a raised temperature (fever) and does not drink much
When to seek medical advice:
Sometimes a more serious infection develops, eg, a bacterial ear, throat or chest infection. You should seek immediate medical advice if your child develops any of the symptoms below (as it may be more than just a cold):
- Breathing problems – wheeziness, fast breathing, noisy breathing or difficulty with breathing
- Being unable to swallow (this may show up as excessive drooling)
- Drowsiness
- Unusual irritability/persistent crying, in a baby, or if the baby is not feeding
- A rash
- Chest pains
- Persistent high temperatures, particularly if a baby aged less than 3 months has a raised temperature (fever) higher than 38°C
- Very bad (severe) headache, sore throat, earache or swollen glands
- A cough that persists for longer than 3–4 weeks
- Symptoms getting worse after about five days of a cold
Use your instincts. If you think a child is getting worse, get medical help, even if they don’t quite fit the ‘rules’ described here.
How to seek further medical advice
If you have concerns that your, or your child’s, condition is worsening (or not improving in the way that would be expected) you should seek medical advice as follows:
- In normal opening hours please contact your own registered GP practice.
- Outside your GP’s opening hours you should phone 111 who will advise you what steps you need to take next.
- If you are unable to get advice from the above and you, or your child has urgent concerns you could re-attend the Urgent Treatment Centre you visited today. If this is not an option you could attend your nearest hospital Emergency Department (A&E).
If you have concerns that you or the patient you are caring for has a potentially life-threatening illness or injury you should call 999.
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