Printed Materials

Fact Sheet

FAQ Brochure # 2

FAQ Brochure # 3

FAQ Brochure # 4

FAQ Brochure # 5

FAQ Brochure # 6

FAQ Brochure # 7

Myths about Hydranencephaly

Myths Brochure

Dear Doctor Letter

Upper Respiratory Infection (URI, or Common Cold)

Cold Symptoms	Flu Symptoms
Low or no fever	High fever
Sometimes a headache	Commonly a headache
Stuffy, runny nose	Sometimes a stuffy nose
Sneezing	Sometimes sneezing
Mild, hacking cough	Cough, may progress
Slight aches and pains	Often severe aches and pains
Mild fatigue	Fatigue, may persist
Sore throat	Sometimes a sore throat
Normal energy level	Exhaustion

http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/info/infectious/diagnose/cold.htm

(this article is no longer online but am including it in as it has important info)

What is an upper respiratory infection (URI)?
An upper respiratory infection (URI), also known as the common cold, is one of the most common illnesses, leading to more doctor visits and absences from school and work than any other illness every year. It is estimated that during a one-year period, people in the US will suffer one billion colds. Caused by a virus that inflames the membranes in the lining of the nose and throat, colds can be the result of more than 200 different viruses. However, among all of the cold viruses, the rhinoviruses and the coronaviruses cause the majority of colds.

Facts about an URI or Cold
Most children will develop at least six to eight colds a year. This number increases for children who attend daycare.

Colds do not happen as much after the age of 6.
Adolescents get colds about two to four times a year.

When is the "cold" season?
Children are most likely to have colds during fall and winter, starting in late August or early September until March or April. The increased incidence of colds during the cold season may be attributed to the fact that more children are indoors and close to each other. In addition, many cold viruses thrive in low humidity, making the nasal passages drier and more vulnerable to infection.

What causes the common cold?
There are many different types of viruses that cause the common cold. In fact, over 200 different varieties of viruses can cause the symptoms of a cold. The most common virus is called the rhinovirus. Other viruses include the coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, enterovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus.

Direct Contact
This means that your child directly touched a person that was infected. A cold is easy for children to spread, because they touch their nose, mouth, and eyes often and then touch other people or objects and can spread the virus. It is important to know that viruses can be spread through objects, such as toys, that have been previously touched by someone with a cold.

What are the symptoms of a common cold?
The symptoms of a cold start from one to three days after your child has been in contact with the cold virus. Usually, the symptoms last about one week, but this varies in each child, and may last even up to two weeks. The following are the most common symptoms of a cold. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

Infants

unable to sleep
fussiness
congestion in the nose
sometimes vomiting and diarrhea
fever

Older Children

stuffy, runny nose
scratchy, tickly throat
watery eyes
sneezing
mild hacking cough
congestion
sore throat
achy muscles and bones
headaches
low grade fever
chills
watery discharge from the nose that thickens and turns yellow or green
mild fatigue

The symptoms of the common cold may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

How is a cold different from the flu?
A cold and the flu (influenza) are two different illnesses. A cold is relatively harmless and usually clears up by itself after a period of time, although sometimes it may lead to a secondary infection, such as an ear infection. The flu can also be harmless but may progress to a more complicated illness, such as pneumonia and even death. What may seem like a cold, could, in fact, be the flu. Be aware of these differences.

Who is at greater risk for catching the common cold?
Children suffer more colds each year than adults, due to their immature immune systems and to the close physical contact with other children at school or daycare. In fact, the average child will have between six to eight colds a year, while the average adult will get two to four colds a year. However, the average number of colds for children and adults will vary.

Aspirin and the Risk of Reye Syndrome in Children

Do not give aspirin to a child who has fever without first contacting the child's physician. Aspirin, when given as treatment for viral illnesses in children, has been associated with Reye syndrome, a potentially serious or deadly disorder in children. Therefore, pediatricians and other healthcare providers recommend that aspirin (or any medication that contains aspirin) not be used to treat any viral illnesses (such as colds, the flu, and chickenpox) in children.

How is the common cold diagnosed?
Most common colds are diagnosed based on reported symptoms. However, cold symptoms may be similar to certain bacterial infections, allergies, and other medical conditions. Always consult your child's physician for a diagnosis.

Treatment for the Common Cold
It is important to remember that there is no cure for the common cold and that antibiotics will not help treat a common cold. Medications are used to help relieve the symptoms, but will not make the cold go away any faster. Therefore, treatment is based on helping the symptoms and supportive care. Specific treatment will be determined by your child's physician based on:

· your child's age, overall health, and medical history
extent of the disease
your child's tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies
expectations for the course of the disease
your opinion or preference

Treatment may include the following:

Increased fluid intake
This will help keep the lining of the nose and throat moist and help to prevent dehydration.

Avoidance of Secondhand Smoke
Keep your child away from passive (secondhand) smoke, as this will increase the irritation in the nose and throat.

To help relieve the congestion and obstruction in the nose for younger children, consider the following:

Saline nose drops may be used.
Use a bulb syringe to help remove the mucus.
Place a cool mist humidifier in the room.
Analgesics, such as acetaminophen, are sometimes helpful in decreasing the discomfort of colds. Consult your child's physician before giving any medication to your child.
There are other medications for congestion, cough, or runny noses. Discuss your options with your child's physician.

Can I prevent my child from getting colds?
Children suffer more colds, due to lack of immunity to viruses to which they have not been exposed. Taking proper preventive measures can reduce the risk of your child developing a cold. Preventive measures may include the following:

Keep your child away from a person with a cold
Encourage your child to wash his/her hands frequently and not to touch his/her mouth, eyes, or nose until their hands are washed
Make sure toys and play areas are properly cleaned, especially if multiple children are playing together

After the virus enters your child's body, it causes a reaction - the body's immune system begins to react to the foreign virus. This, in turn, causes:

an increase in mucus production (a runny nose)
swelling of the lining of the nose (making it hard to breath and congestion)
sneezing (from the irritation in the nose)
cough (from the increased mucus dripping down the throat)

How did my child catch a cold?
In order to catch a cold, your child must come in contact with one of the viruses that cause a cold, from someone else who is affected. The cold virus can be transmitted in the following ways:

Through the Air
If a person with a cold sneezes or coughs, small amounts of the virus can go into the air. Then, if your child breathes in that air, the virus will adhere to your child's nasal membrane.

What are the possible complications from having a cold?
The following are some of the complications that might occur if your child gets a cold:

· ear infections

· sinus infections

· pneumonia

· throat infections

Consult your child's physician for further evaluation.

Cold Weather and Colds
Contrary to popular belief, cold weather or getting chilled does not cause a cold, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). However, more colds do occur during the cold season (early fall to late winter), which is probably due to a variety of factors, including the following:

schools are in session, increasing the risk for exposure to the virus
people stay more indoors and are in closer proximity to each other
low humidity, causing dry nasal passages which are more susceptible to cold viruses

Antibiotics Overuse
Antibiotic overuse in children has become a common problem, aggravated by parental pressure for the medication, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). In 1980, 4.2 million prescriptions were written for amoxicillin, an oral antibiotic to treat ear infections. In 1992, the number of prescriptions had grown to 12.3 million (194 percent increase). Use of another antibiotic to treat ear infections, cephalosporins, increased from 876,000 prescriptions in 1980 to 6.8 million in 1992 (a 687 percent increase).

Overuse of antibiotics is leading to strains of diseases that are becoming resistant to the medication, making it harder to treat patients. All too often, antibiotics have been prescribed for conditions such as colds, fluid in the middle ear, or bronchitis, which do not respond to antibiotics, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Antibiotics are only effective in treating bacterial infections.

The key to preventing overuse of antibiotics is education of the parents and physicians in the appropriate use of antibiotics, according to the AAP.

Some tips to remember when taking antibiotics, according to the American Medical Association (AMA), include the following:

· Take the antibiotics as prescribed

· Finish the full course of antibiotics, as prescribed

· Do not save or reuse antibiotics

The Cold Viruses
The rhinoviruses and the coronaviruses are the most common causes of a cold. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), the rhinoviruses cause about one-third of all colds (30 to 35 percent), while the most common causes of adult colds are the coronaviruses. However, the cause of 30 to 50 percent of colds remains unidentified.

Rhinoviruses - There are more than 110 different rhinoviruses that cause most colds in early fall, spring, and summer. Named after the Greek word "rhin" for "nose," rhinoviruses thrive in the human nasal mucosa.

Coronaviruses - More than 30 different strains of the coronavirus exist, with three or four types affecting humans. The virus is most active in the winter and early spring.

Always consult your child's physician for more information.

©1999-2003, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039
513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462 | TTY: 513-636-4900

Health Topics Legal Disclaimer
If you or your child experiences unusual, unexpected or severe side effects from following the procedures or directions contained in this document, we advise you to immediately call your primary care physician, your local emergency room, or in cases of extreme adverse reaction or side effects, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Pediatric care is constantly improving and dealing with new challenges. New ideas, practices and research prompt continuous changes in our understanding and recommendations. These pages represent our best efforts but are in no way meant to replace the critical dialogue and recommendations of your pediatrician or health care professional. Information within "Health Topics" is believed to be reliable and generally in accord with the standards accepted at the time of publication. However, the possibility of human error and changes in medical sciences prevent the authors and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center from offering these pages as anything more than starting points for care decisions and educational insights that parents, pediatricians, health care professionals and children must make together.

If you believe you, your child, or someone you know, suffer from the conditions described herein, please see your health care provider. Do not attempt to treat yourself, your child, or anyone else without proper medical supervision.

Subscribe to the Hydranencephaly Mailing list

August 16, 2001- January 12, 2005

This website is funded in loving memory of Jason S. by his mother Kammy

The information on this site is provided by families, caregivers, and professionals who are or have been caring for a child with Hydranencephaly.

Please report any broken links or missing photos to angelbearmom@shaw.ca