Few illnesses are more common than a cold, and babies and younger children generally catch them more often than adults. Flu symptoms, however, can include a sudden onset of fever, aches, and pain, lethargy, headaches, and lung congestion. Learn how to tell whether your child has a cold or flu and how to ease the symptoms.
Why do kids catch so many colds?
It may seem that your child is always catching colds, but this is actually a normal part of childhood – most preschool children have at least six colds a year.
The common cold can be caused by more than 100 known cold viruses (the most common is the rhinovirus). If your child suffers from many colds, it’s not a sign of a weak immune system. Small children tend to have more colds than adults or older kids because they haven’t yet built up immunity towards the many different cold viruses.
What causes colds and flu in babies and kids?
There are several ways a cold or flu virus can be passed on to your child:
- Direct contact – certain viruses, including those that cause colds, can live outside the body (for example, on your hands). This means colds and the flu can easily spread through touching.
- Indirect contact – respiratory viruses can also live on surfaces like countertops and doorknobs.
- Through the air – some viruses can spread from infected people to others through the air. If you have a cold or the flu and cough or sneeze without covering your mouth, you could expel these viruses into the air, where they can then be inhaled by others.
Child and baby cold symptoms
If you’re wondering whether your child has a cold, look out for the following symptoms:
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Sore throat
- Fever (less commonly)
- Headache
- Cough
- Green or yellow nasal discharge
What’s the difference between child and baby cold and flu?
It’s not always easy to tell the difference between cold and flu in kids. Many flu symptoms in kids are similar to those of a common cold, so it’s good to understand the main differences.
Cold and flu medicine for kids
While there’s no cure for the common cold, you can rest assured that it will normally clear up on its own. However, if your child has a severe cold or flu symptoms, there are steps you can take to help make them feel more comfortable.
There’s a wide range of over-the-counter medicines available, so you can choose the one that’s most suitable for your child. Use our age guides to see which products are best for managing the symptoms of pain and fever associated with your baby’s cold or flu:
Baby cold and flu symptom relief – these include color-free baby drops suitable for children aged 1 month to 2 years – e.g. Children's Panadol Colour-Free Baby Drops – and suppositories for babies older than 6 months.
Children aged 1-5 – choose from color-free suspension, suppositories, and chewable tablets such as Children's Panadol Chewable Tablets 3+.
Other ways to ease cold and flu symptoms in kids
There are a number of home remedies you can try to help manage the symptoms of colds and flu in children:
- Drinking plenty of fluids to help avoid dehydration - staying hydrated ensures that the body can function properly and can defend itself more effectively against a cold or flu.
- Eating nourishing food –even if your child doesn’t feel like eating much, ensure you keep offering them small and nutritious meals to keep up their energy levels.
- Saline drops – saltwater nose drops or a nasal spray (followed by bulb suction for infants) can dilute the mucus and help ease breathing.
When to call the doctor
If your child experiences any of the following, you should seek advice from your doctor:
- Persistent colored discharge from the nose
- Difficulty breathing
- High fever that does not respond to paracetamol
- Vomiting frequently
- Intense headache
- Persistent cough