7 month old had cold for nearly 2 weeks - help

[gossifer]

he still has a really bad cough, should i go to the doctors, or just keep on looking after him/giving calpol when needed/breastfeeding him? (ps also just got first tooth - poor poppet)
thanks for any advice

[compo]

i would take him to the doctor just for the reassurance although my ds seemed to have a continual cold at this age

[Kelly1978]

It is common at that age. My 5mo has had one sicne we gt back from Spain over two weeks ago. I can remember takign dd to the doctors since hers went on for weeks, and was told it was normal for a cold to last 2/3 weeks. Have you tried medised? Better than calpol for colds.

[gossifer]

what's medised kelly, another liquid medicine?

[zippitippitoes]

I think if the cold appeared to get better and then worsened it is either a new cold or a secondary infection the secondaryinfection may be bacterial and so could respond to antibiotics, so if you would give your baby antibiotics then it may be worth seeing the doctor, especially if it is a chesty cough.

[Kelly1978]

yep, it has paracetamol and other active ingredients to treat colds, I find it is great for coughs.

[gossifer]

thanks

[ruty]

Paracetamol as far as i know only reduces fevers. Whether it treats coughs or not I am not entirely sure. Does he have a temperature? I would go to the docs and just get him to listen to his chest. Antibiotics i would only give as a last option under strong advice from doc at this age.

[gossifer]

think i'm gonna take him to the docs, don't want to give him antibiotics but his cough is awful, thanks for all your advice xxx