Do you take your kids to the doctors if they have a cold?

[nopinkplasticshite]

Sorry, but I have just come back from a two and a half hour wait at the surgery to see the nurse, who then referred me to the doctor. What I want to know is am I totally OTT in taking DS2 (15 months) to the doctor when he's had a cold (LOTS of green snot!) for 2 full weeks and has now developed a barking cough that is keeping the whole house awake at night?

Any time I take either DS to the nurse or doctor I am made to feel like a complete mad woman. So am I? DS1 had the same cold and got over it in a week so I didn't take him. I don't take them in every week or month - kids get lots of colds, especially when at nursery or school but if it drags on or develops into a chesty or wheezy cough I do take them. Am I being precious over them or does everyone get made to feel like this?

1 year old with a bad cough? yes, definitely would take to the GP. Nurses and GPs have several years training in spotting sick people; we don't, hence why we need to see them.

I never take them for a bog standard cold, only if something out of the ordinary happens, eg dd1 had a cough for 2 weeks and suddenly deteriorated and developed a high temp so took her to the emergency doc. On another occasion she had a cold and started making a really alarming loud wheeze, turned out she had croup.

I find they generally can't/won't give you anything these days anyway, I don't waste my time unless I'm very sure something is amiss.

No. I rarely take dd. I took her when she had a cold that caused sucking in under her ribs and around her throat (accompanied by a horrid noise and v fast breathing). She was admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis and given steroids.

In 3 years I've only been a couple of times and generally to check for infection (ear pulling and screaming for example- yes was an ear infection). I tend to nip into the walk in centre though as there's no wait and it doesn't take up an appointment at the surgery.

But then I don't medicate for a cold or temp either.

Not usually, no.

But I did take ds2 when he had his third cold in as many months when he was only 5 months old.

The lovely, lovely doctor looked him over very carefully, listened to his chest and then said "Ah yes. What we have here is a wee snotty boy."

It was exactly the tone I needed, being somewhat overwrought with virtually no sleep and a small baby with reams of green snot running down his face.

I love my surgery.

Colds are caused by viruses.
Colds are caused by viruses.

Antibiotics don't work on viruses.

It is quite usual to get a post viral cough which can last up to 6 weeks.

Expensive cough medicines are a waste of time (apart from the placebo effect) - if you want something to stop the cough - tickly throat - cough cycle, ask the chemist for "simple linctus". Cheap as chips and does the job just as well.

Having said all that, not everyone can tell the difference between a cold and a more serious infection. A temp above 38C is a good indication.

Overuse of antibiotics is leading to a huge increase in the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria - one day our children may need them for something pretty serious only to find they don't work...!

Well child (eating, drinking, playing etc) + cold = don't bother

Unwell child with cold = get checked out

Worried parent with either of the above children = get checked out.

It's what doc's do - reassure worried people. In fact it's what we do far more often than treat stuff.

And yes, antibiotics are a waste of time and unwise for the reasons outlined above for common cold.

Good rule of thumb is 'cold takes 3 days to come, 3 days to stay and 3 days to go' ie takes well OVER a week to be all done with.

the thing is I've learned with chest infections is that

1. They don't always wheeze/rattle
2. Their breathing isn't always noticeably laboured
3. They don't always cough like mad
4. They don't always lose their appetite/etc