What should parents do if infants and children under 2 years of age experience cough and cold symptoms?
A. A cold is a respiratory illness that is usually self-limited and lasts about a week. Cold symptoms typically include sneezing, coughing, runny or stuffy nose, and sore throat. Children may also experience a fever. Most of the time, a cold will go away by itself. If you are concerned about making your child feel more comfortable, talk with your doctor about what approaches to take. Your doctor may recommend drinking plenty of fluids to help loosen mucus and keep children hydrated, and using saline nasal drops and gently suctioning mucus from the nose with a bulb syringe. Your doctor may also recommend fever reducers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If your child’s cold symptoms do not improve or get worse, contact your doctor. A persistent cough may signal a more serious condition such as bronchitis or asthma. Q. Are particular products being recalled? A. No. This public health advisory does not mean that products are being recalled. In October 2007, the Consumer Healthcare Produc
