When a Cold Is Not a Cold

Is your baby's nose running? Is he sneezing? Coughing? Must be a cold, right? Not necessarily. Sometimes the symptoms we associate with a cold actually signal another upper respiratory infection in your infant. Here's a look at how to spot and treat the common cold and three other infections or conditions that you may mistake for a cold.

COMMON COLD  l  ALLERGIES  l  SINUSITIS  l  INFLUENZA 

COMMON COLD

Colds generally lasts five to seven days.

Symptoms
A cold will make your baby irritable but he will still want to nurse or bottle-feed and be comforted by contact.
His nasal discharge will be clear to white and his nose may alternate between runny and stuffy.
A low-grade fever (under 101.5) may develop.
Symptoms such as joint pain and swelling, muscle ache, vomiting, skin rashes, and urinary problems are not consistent with a common cold.

Prevention
The most effective way to keep your infant from catching a cold is to minimize the number of people who handle the baby. Anyone who does hold or touch her should wash hands before contact. Despite these efforts, it's not uncommon for infants to have as many as 6 to 10 colds per year, especially if they have contact with older children.

Treatment