What to Do for Your Child's Cold

It's not unusual for children to get five to eight colds a year. Here's how to take care of your child the next time a cold strikes.

You can't cure a cold, but you can help your child feel better. Try these tips:

• Give your child lots of liquids, including water. Chicken soup can help too.

• Make sure your child gets enough sleep. But if your child is not tired, he or she doesn't have to stay in bed.

• To make a sore throat feel better, give your child warm liquids. Gargling with warm water and salt also helps (approximately one teaspoon per glass of water).

• To make a stuffed-up nose feel better, raise your child's head with pillows. Or use a humidifier.

Check with your child's doctor before giving medicine. Never give aspirin to a child. Aspirin can make children very sick. Ask the doctor for other choices.

When to call the doctor

Your child probably doesn't need to see a doctor for most colds. But call the doctor if he or she has any of these symptoms:

• Your child has a fever over 100.4 degrees.

• Your child rubs or pulls his or her ear or complains of pain in the ear. It could mean your child has an earache.

• Your child wheezes or has a hard time breathing or swallowing.

• Your child has had a cold with a fever for more than 48 hours.

For babies younger than 3 months: If your baby eats less, doesn't stop crying, sleeps more than usual, or has a weak cry, call your baby's doctor.

If you do not have a doctor for your child and need help finding a Keystone Mercy doctor, please call Member Services at 1-800-521-6860.  You can also click here to get to the Keystone Mercy provider director to find a doctor.

To stay healthy

To prevent a cold, teach your child to wash his or her hands many times a day. Also have your child stay away from other children with colds.

Keystone Mercy has a Nurse Call Line that is there for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  If you have questions about certain symptoms and your doctor is not available, please call 1-866-431-1514.  The nurse can help answer your questions.  Please remember that the Nurse Call Line does not take the place of your doctor.  Always follow up with your doctor.