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Your child has a runny nose. This is a
normal part of what happens during the common cold and as it gets better.
Here are some facts about colds and runny noses.
What causes a
runny nose during a cold?
When germs that cause colds first infect the nose and sinuses, the nose
makes clear mucus. This helps wash the germs from the nose and sinuses.
After two or three days, the body's immune cells fight back, changing the
mucus to a white or yellow color. As the bacteria that live in the nose grow
back, they may also be found in the mucus, which changes the mucus to a
greenish color. This is normal and does not mean your child needs
antibiotics.
What should I do?
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The best treatment is to wait and
watch your child. Runny nose, cough, and symptoms like fever, headache,
and muscle aches may be bothersome, but antibiotics will not make them go
away any faster.
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Some people find that using a cool
mist vaporizer or saltwater nose drops makes their child feel better.
Are
antibiotics ever needed for a runny nose?
Antibiotics are needed only if your doctor tells you that your child has
sinusitis. Your child's doctor may prescribe other medicine or give you tips
to help with a cold's other symptoms like fever and cough, but antibiotics
are not needed to treat the runny nose.
Why not try
antibiotics now?
Taking antibiotics when they are not needed can be harmful. Each time people
take antibiotics, they are more likely to carry resistant germs. Your child
may need antibiotics that are more costly, given by a needle, and/or
administered in the hospital. Since a runny nose almost always gets better
on its own, it is better to wait and take antibiotics only when they are
needed. |
