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Children's health

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Original poster

how long would you let a cold go on for before being a bit concerned?

37 replies

mad4myboys · 19/12/2009 09:30

ok so flu season/cold season but 12 month old ds2 has had a cold for 2 weeks now. Nose is very congested and then running disgustingly and he is grouchy. Have been giving him paracetamol and i know you shouldnt do this for long? He hasnt had a temperature. Ive never known a cold to last this long. If i went to see gp wouldnt they just say wait it out? If it was something else he'd have a temp wouldnt he?

OP posts:

PixieOnaChristmasTree · 19/12/2009 11:23

It could be sinusitus if he's got a blocked noes but no other symptoms.

I'd make a GP appointment just to be on the safe side and so you don't wake up to a really ill DS on Christmas day!

chocolaterabbit · 19/12/2009 11:25

Agree about GP appt although have to say DS (10 weeks) and DD 2.5 seem to have had constants colds for about 4 weeks/ I'm assuming they keep on getting variations on one cold which makes them both a bit poorly again.

whomovedmychocolate · 19/12/2009 11:29

Actually it's really common for the under two to have two concurrent infections so it can go on for up to three weeks! If he's wheezy go to the docs but otherwise lots of rest and time are all you can offer (though I put olbas oil under the sheet on a tissue and that seems to help the congestion issue).

Original poster

mad4myboys · 19/12/2009 18:49

he does have ent issues (enlarged adenoids and under ent specialist who we are seeing next month) but this is his first proper cold. He isnt eating a great deal but isnt dehydrated or anything, very up and down, whingey and then ok..

OP posts:

Original poster

mad4myboys · 20/12/2009 20:03

bump

OP posts:

Toady · 20/12/2009 20:53

Just thinking about what the doctor would say, is his 'snot' green, is his chest clear, is he wheezy, is he eating and drinking, weeing ok? If none of these then I would say he is ok?

It is very difficult isn't it to know what to do, for example my two older children now 6 and 12 seemed to have permanent snotty noses and colds until the about the age of two, but they seemed to manage ok with the usual, steam in the room, olbas oil is another good one, trying to get them to blow their noses rather than sniffing (which I know is difficult when they are little) and calpol / medised when needed. But with my youngest who is now 4 I have to be very careful with him because a cold can move on to his chest or give him an ear / throat infection quite quickly.

Have you got a ring back service with your doctor, this might be worth doing.

Original poster

mad4myboys · 21/12/2009 08:56

his snot was green but not now amd has been making odd noise when he breathes in but wouldnt say wheezy. Hes drinking fine but not eating alot. I think he is getting bit better

OP posts:

peacocks · 21/12/2009 09:14

Maybe you're suppressing the temp too efficiently and that's why he hasn't had one?

If it was me I would put to bed completely for a couple of days with hot water bottles, lots of fluids, steam every day and no Calpol and some decent Vitamin C (Redoxon is pathetic only 10mg I think).

If he's in pain the Calpol is suppressing it so you don't really know what the symptoms are iyswim. Also it will be allowing him to be up and about when he shouldn't be. He should be in bed.

However. I'm not a doctor.

seeker · 21/12/2009 09:21

"He should be in bed"

Really? I don't think I've ever kept anyone in bed unless they really wanted to be there - dd used to get exhausted sometimes when she was littler and wanted to spend the morning - and occasionally the whole day - in bed, but it's not something I would ever suggest. What do other people do?

EVye · 21/12/2009 09:45

Agree with Seeker. Lots of tv rest, fluids, food, cuddles.

If green snot, awful cough etc then take to GP.

IneedacleanerIamalazyslattern · 21/12/2009 09:48

Just to add ds has ent issues one being enlarged adenoids and when he gets a cold it seems to drag on forever because even a tiny sniffle mixed with the enlarged adenoids seems to really affect him rather than it being a full blown cold.

peacocks · 21/12/2009 09:51

Yes obviously he should be in bed. He's been ill for two weeks.

weegiemum · 21/12/2009 09:57

Bed?

I send my children to school with these symptoms, otherwise at this time of year they would never go at all.

Children get upwards of 25 cold type infections a year (according to my dh, who is a GP) and if each one lasts 5 days, and they are concentrated in the winter months, then some kids are going to look like they have a cold for weeks when it is one after another.

I can't imagine putting a child to bed for 2 days when the only obvious symptom is a runny nose!

peacocks · 21/12/2009 10:00

But he's been ill for two weeks and isn't getting better. Slightly different.

You get better when you rest, you repair yourself when you rest and sleep is the best medicine of all.

My children are very very rarely ill and when they are it is rarely for more than a day. If they're ill enough to be off school they're ill enough to be confined to bed, no Calpol. They'll fall asleep at some point. They drift in an out. They are usually better the next day.

weegiemum · 21/12/2009 10:03

Why would you not give an ill child calpol? Its not just for temperatures, but for all the other grotty feelings you get when you have a cold.

I'm also imagining managing to keep a 12 month old baby in bed all day.

When mine are ill they get to stay in jammies, lie on the sofa, watch a little telly, read a book, have medicine as and when they start to feel crap again and generally get pampered by Mummy. Thats just as restful as being confined to bed.

weegiemum · 21/12/2009 10:04

And it is likely this poor wee man has had 2 or 3 colds one after another, not one cold he can't shake off.

peacocks · 21/12/2009 10:07

It's not as restful weegie. No, I wouldn't give an ill child Calpol unless they were in too much pain to sleep or their temp went over 102. Fever has a purpose. Anyway why suppress the grotty feelings? They make you want to go to bed, it's your body telling you to rest.

addictedtolatte · 21/12/2009 10:07

my ds had a succession of colds for about 8 weeks. i was told this was quite normal. time to worry is when they get a persistent cough. hes probably getting symptoms of cold 1 week then teething the next. my ds used to get a snotty nose with teething although some people argue this doesnt happen it does with my ds. goood luck am sure he'll be fine

LIZS · 21/12/2009 10:08

calpol won't help with just feeling groggy though. If he isn't unwell (fever, ear pain etc) then I'd continue as you are - use Olbas oil or a vaporiser to help congestion)and try leaving off calpol. If you think he may be suffering then see gp pre Christmas.

peacocks · 21/12/2009 10:08

It's not that likely either, though it's possible. Still, he's plainly exhausted through school and illness. Bed.

Bonsoir · 21/12/2009 10:09

Agree with others, he should be in bed or wrapped up in a duvet on the sofa in front of the TV. Not go outside at all.

weegiemum · 21/12/2009 10:10

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one I think.

I'll continue to let my children lie on the sofa all tucked up in blankets with a hot drink and at least chat to me while I am studying, and they usually drop off anyway.

If I put them in bed and said don't come downstairs they would think I was ignoring them - isn't it nice to be with your Mum when you are ill? Often I sit and do my reading for Uni on the sofa with them, they seem to find that comforting.

Glad that your way works for your kids, though. Mine wouldn't stay in bed!

weegiemum · 21/12/2009 10:12

He's not exhausted through school, peacocks. He's 12 months old!

EVye · 21/12/2009 10:28

calopol is liquid parecetemol isnt it. so treats headaches, earaches, pains etc as well as fever. If I had a headache I would take paracetemol so I wouldnt deny it to my child if they were unwell and couldnt tell me where it hurt.

DaisymooSteiner · 21/12/2009 10:29

Have you ever tried confining a 12 month old to bed all day when they don't want to be there Peacocks?!

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