Cold in the newborn: how to cure it to avoid complications
The immune systems of infants and children are more fragile than that of adults, so they are often prone to seasonal colds or other airway disorders.
Especially during the cold season, it is not always enough to take all the measures recommended by the pediatrician to prevent them from falling ill. Furthermore, if they go to kindergarten or childhood education centers every day, the likelihood of contagion increases with all the associated risks and dangers.
In any case, do not worry, in most cases the cold in the newborn if treated in the right way is solved without problems in a short time and you will see your little one feel good immediately. Let's see, though, what you can do to relieve your baby's cold.
Before continuing, we recommend that you watch this short video with some advice on your child's hygiene.
The causes of colds in the newborn
The first cold in the newborn can occur in the first months of life (around the 3rd or 4th month, usually) due to a viral infection. In addition to the influenza virus, the viruses responsible for the infection can also be Adenovirus, parainfluenza and the more recent Coronavirus.
Once infected by the virus, newborns become immune to it and in this way are protected from future infections that could be developed by the same viral agent.
We remind all listening mothers and fathers that when we talk about immunity, we are referring to the fact that for a period of time the child will be free from the same cold already contracted, therefore it is in all respects a temporary immunity.
After some time the baby will again be susceptible to the "viral agent that caused him that" episode earlier.
The ways of contagion
Your little one has a cold and you just can't explain how this could have happened? Before panicking, let's see together which are the contagion routes through which the virus passes undisturbed, sneaking into the organism of the little ones.
Saliva is the first to consider: the droplets of saliva that we emit during sneezing or coughing, act as carriers of the virus from one subject to another.
Direct or indirect contact with already infected people or with contaminated objects because previously touched by infected people. In this case, more factors come into play, if we touch contaminated objects with our hands and then put our hands in our mouths or rub our eyes, we are much more likely to get sick.
An important thing to know, which we may often underestimate, is that viruses are able to remain active on the surfaces of objects for up to 2 or 3 hours.
In short, unfortunately it is really easy to come into contact with all the viral agents present, in most cases we do not even notice. Therefore, one of the first steps could be to be careful so that the newborn avoids coming into contact with infected elements.
The most common symptoms
The cold arrives and the first symptoms leave no room for doubt. As a mother, among the first signs you will notice that something is wrong with your baby, there is certainly difficulty in sleeping; your baby will struggle to sleep even if he is very tired, or he will wake up during rest due to a cold.
This aspect is accompanied by others, let's see what are the other typical cold symptoms in newborns:
- a runny nose
in the first days the mucus that comes out of the nose is very watery and light in color; later it will become dense and colored between yellow and green. A runny nose could also be accompanied by a real nasal congestion, during which the baby could breathe through his mouth.
- fever
Fever usually appears in the first few days; it can remain low or stand up and in these cases it is always recommended to consult a pediatrician who can prescribe tachipirina.
- sneezing
In reality, sneezing is one of the very first signs of the advent of a cold, at times it can also be mistaken for allergy in the case of intolerant subjects.
- cough
A cough occurs when both the upper and lower respiratory tracts are involved in the cold. In the newborn, the cough is really unpleasant, you can try to calm it with natural methods (example: humidifying the room where he rests more), but if it persists, ask your pediatrician for advice.
- red eyes
Your child's eyes speak to you, observe them very carefully, in periods of colds they will be red. Part of the common symptoms, the redness will disappear on its own in a short time.
- decreased appetite and problems with breastfeeding
If the baby refuses the breast and is generally inappetent, do not be alarmed, this is also a situation that is part of the flu state. It is important at this stage not to force the baby to eat, he will look for the breast again in a few days.
- irritability
Frequent crying is what upsets parents the most when babies are cold. It is essential to try to reassure them during these crises, even if it is not easy, you will see that little by little the lost serenity will return.
Effective remedies to relieve colds in newborns
The immune system in infants is able to fight the virus independently, which is why as a parent you don't have to worry too much. To alleviate the unpleasant symptoms we were talking about earlier, you can try to avoid drugs and opt for home remedies that are simple to implement and that work in most cases. Which ones are they?
- Increase your water intake
Try to make the baby drink a lot, water will help to avoid dehydration and loosen the mucus.
- Carry out nasal washes with salt
Even if you have done this before, continue to do nasal washes on your baby. In the period of colds, use a saline solution that will counteract the mucus, freeing the respiratory tract. You can also use aerosols with simple physiological solution to free the stuffy nose.
- Humidify the rooms
A humid environment will help drainage of mucus, relieve nasal congestion and help your babies rest better
- Promote rest
Although we have said that the newborn is restless in these periods, try to promote his sleep by avoiding any type of stress such as loud noises, keep the room in dim light and a general quiet climate in the house.
What are the complications of a cold in the baby?
In rare cases, a simple cold can lead to much more serious diseases. Do not worry, with the help of the pediatrician you will identify the right treatments so that the baby returns healthy in the shortest possible time.
What are the diseases that can result from colds?
- Ear infection
And "inflammation of the middle ear" can probably be considered one of the most common cold complications.
- Sinusitis
In this case it is the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.
- Laryngotracheobronchitis
It is a disease of the respiratory system which involves the larynx, the trachea and the bronchi. Brings a very strong cough, hoarse voice and trouble breathing.
- Pneumonia
It is "an" inflammation in the pulmonary alveoli that involves difficulty in breathing, sweating, vomiting, fever and cough.
All these diseases require medical intervention especially in the case of children. The thing to do therefore is to alert the pediatrician as soon as possible if you see one of these symptoms appear in infants or children.
Is prevention possible?
The rules for preventing children's colds are simple: moms, dads, ready to put them into practice?
- Periodically sterilize pacifiers and toys that your little one uses most often.
- Wash your hands carefully before feeding him.
- Be sure to cough and sneeze into a tissue and throw it away as soon as possible; or in an emergency, sneeze into the crook of your arm.
- Keep the child away from anyone who is sick or who may be infected but asymptomatic.
Read an in-depth analysis on the subject of colds on the website of the Bambino Gesù Pediatric Hospital.
