Common cold

StorkLine is a free 24-hour hotline answered by Baptist Health Paducah nurses at (270) 575-BABY. Here are some frequently asked questions during the winter, along with their answers.

Question: My child has a cold. Should I be worried?

Answer: You need to consult a physician about a cold if your child has had a fever greater than 102 degrees for three days; has a sore throat for more than two to three days, especially when accompanied by high fever; or stops eating or drinking. Also, you need to watch for a croupy cough (sounds like a seal barking), which may occur frequently at night; wheezing; or an earache. Small children will sometimes pull or rub at their ears when they have an earache.

Question: What cold medicine should I give my child?

Answer: The Food and Drug Administration has removed from store shelves all over-the-counter cough and cold medications for infants. Do not give children under 2 medications intended for older children without speaking to your child’s doctor first. If you have a prescription less than a year old for the ill child, call your child’s doctor to verify the dosage. Children grow rapidly and dosage is based on weight.