Children's Coughs & Colds

Keeping your child hydrated is vital when they have a cough as water helps the body to fight illness and keeps their airways clear.

When they’re sleeping, elevate their head to relieve nasal congestion, and introduce a humidifier to prevent their throat from becoming dry and irritated.

You may wish to apply a vapour rub to their skin to help clear their airways or administer cough medicine.

Always speak to a doctor or pharmacist beforehand so they can advise which type of cough your child has and if it’s safe to use at their age.

The cold and flu are viral infections, so antibiotics won’t work.

You should make sure your child is drinking plenty of fluids, as fever can cause dehydration, in addition to rest.

If you need to clear your child’s stuffed nose, introduce a humidifier or use a decongestant oil like Olbas, dabbed on their pillow or clothing.

You may want to administer a painkiller suitable for children such as Calpol or Nurofen, but make sure to speak to a doctor or pharmacist first to ensure it will be safe and effective for your child’s cold.

If you have a chesty cough then the best thing to do is get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.

These will help your body to recover from the cold, flu, or other infection that’s causing your cough, and therefore help to ease the cough itself.

You can also try to make a hot drink with honey and lemon, which may help to soothe your irritated throat.

The symptoms for cold and flu are similar, so it can be hard to tell the difference.

But the best way to tell the difference is how well you’re able to go about your day.

If you have a cold, you won’t feel great, but you can probably go into work and go to the shops - if you have the flu, you will most likely be bedridden until the worst of it passes.

Cold symptoms appear gradually, whereas the flu is sudden.