Frequently Asked Questions - Colds

Like a cold, the flu is highly contagious but, unlike a cold, it is also a serious illness that can have life-threatening complications. To see the differences, compare the list of symptoms for each illness.

Cold viruses often enter your body when you touch your eyes, nose, or
mouth after you come in to contact with a person or object that is
carrying it. To prevent this from happening, avoid any people who have
colds, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and
mouth.

Plain soap and water is just as effective as antibacterial soaps and it is usually less expensive. Liquid soap is preferred over bar soap since it cannot spread germs from one user to the next. When a bathroom is not available hand sanitizers are a convenient way to wash your hands.

The best thing you can do now is get plenty of rest and drink plenty of
fluids. Avoid any caffeine-containing beverages as they may cause
dehydration. Also, talk to your pharmacist about over-the-counter
medications that may relieve some of your symptoms.

The FDA announced a recall in October 2007 affecting several commonly used infant cough and cold products. If you have these items in your medicine chest, they advise disposing of them. The recall was not prompted by any defect in these items. There were issues with people overdosing children when they mixed up the doses for infant drops and pediatric formulations. Because of the increased use of one brand name for several products containing different ingredients, there has been confusion about the ingredients the child actually is getting. The medication you may have in medicine chest is not directly dangerous to your child unless it is not properly used.

The FDA is evaluating cough and cold medications in children and infants since these items have never been tested in kids specifically. The current recommendation is to not use medication in children less than 2 years old unless recommended by your health care provider.

If your child is older, make sure to use a pediatric formulation. Read the directions, active ingredients, and warnings on the label before giving anything to them. Dosing based on weight is the safest way to treat your child. If you are unsure how much medication to give, please call and ask to speak to a pharmacist. Be prepared to list the active ingredients (and amounts, often listed as mg/teaspoon or 5ml), and tell us your child's weight. We can recommend the safest dose for your child based on this information.