During the season change period, the temperature difference is large, and many babies catch colds. Faced with the baby’s cough, runny nose and other [minor problems], many parents take out the regular medicine at home and want to [use medicine in time to suppress minor diseases]. However, although the cold is small, the baby should be cautious in taking medicine, and several types of medicine cannot be used casually.
Don’t eat antibiotics indiscriminately.
Antibiotics, in short, are used to kill bacteria. However, colds are actually caused by various viruses. Since it is caused by viruses, taking antibiotics for colds is actually ineffective.
However, some people also said that if the baby catches a cold, it is not possible to have bacterial infection, and it is not possible to prevent it by taking antibiotics early.
In fact, indiscriminate administration of antibiotics to patients with colds is of no benefit to their illness and cannot prevent bacterial infection. To do so is to abuse antibiotics instead. The evil consequence is to create strong bacteria resistant to antibiotics, which will lead to [incurable] infection in the future.
Therefore, don’t take antibiotics indiscriminately when your baby has a cold. Antibiotics should be taken after doctors judge and consider bacterial infection.
Don’t abuse cold medicine
Since I can’t take antibiotics when I catch a cold, it is always right for me to give my baby some cold medicine.
Here, we also need to remind our mother that abuse is risky.
Cold medicine is actually a very broad name, including antipyretic analgesic (paracetamol, etc.), nasal mucosa vasoconstrictor (pseudoephedrine, etc.), antihistamines (chlorpheniramine, diphenhydramine, etc.) and many other kinds. So many cold medicines, not any of them can be used for symptomatic treatment.
Some parents will choose compound cold drugs for their children, believing that [one drug has multiple effects], but the ingredients are relatively complex and lack of dosage standards for children. Children under 4 years old are at great risk of taking compound cold drugs, so they are not recommended to their babies.
Chinese patent medicine is not necessary.
Chinese patent medicine is not recommended. There are several reasons:
1. The composition of Chinese patent medicine is complex. Its adverse reactions, precautions, taboos and pharmacology and toxicology are all [unclear]. The curative effect of baby after taking it is not clear, but various side effects may occur. The risk is too high and it is not recommended to use it.
2. In order to achieve better curative effect, some proprietary Chinese medicines add some [special ingredients] to the drugs, such as [poppy shell, opium powder, camphor tincture], etc. These ingredients will cause special addiction, and it is best not to give them to children.
Can’t use cold medicine, how to treat the cold?
Cold is a self-limited disease, even if it is not treated, it will generally be cured in about a week. However, the baby will feel uncomfortable due to some symptoms. In order to make the child not so uncomfortable, mothers still need symptomatic care.
1. Fever
If fever makes children uncomfortable, you can take antipyretic and analgesic drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen orally.
2. Nasal Thias and Runny Noses
Nasal obstruction may affect sleep and eating, and is often the most annoying symptom for infants and young children. It is recommended to spray or drip normal saline on the nose and keep the indoor humidity at 40-60%. In addition, vertical hugging and patting on the back can also make him comfortable.
Step 3: Cough
Cough is a manifestation of the body’s self-protection. If the child coughs infrequently, he can drink a small amount of water many times and take warm liquid food and honey (for children over 1 year old) to relieve the symptoms. If the cough is more serious, he should consult a doctor face to face and never give the child cough medicine casually.
4. Sore throat
Mothers can give their babies a small amount of water for many times to relieve it. If the child refuses to eat with oral pain, they can try to eat popsicles and ice cream, which can relieve pain and supplement some energy.
5. Watch out for otitis media
Abnormal middle ear pressure is very common during the common cold and is easy to develop into acute otitis media. If the baby has symptoms such as purulent ears, frequent ear scratching, crying and uneasiness, he should see a doctor in time.
Babies are annoyed by colds and look miserable. Not giving them drugs will make parents feel uneasy and seem to be sorry for their babies. But in fact, resisting this pressure and not allowing babies to use some harmful and useless drugs is the real love for children.