What is cold in children?
A cold is a contagious viral disease that infects the soft lining of the nose.
It is a condition that can cure within a week or ten days. But if the symptoms are more serious it may lead to influenza. Cold is most common during the winter season and affects children soon.
There are more than 200 different viruses that can cause cold.
Causes and spread of cold in children
The infection is widely caused and spread by airborne droplets when the sufferer sneezes.
Sharing of things in between children may also lead to cold. Hand-to-hand contact is also one of the reasons for spreading cold.
Symptoms of cold in children
Sore throat.
Sneezing.
There may be a pain in swallowing.
An aching feeling in the ears.
Headache.
A feeling of being unwell.
Sometimes high temperature.
Home remedies for cold in children
Combine 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water and stir it. Add a squirt or two of fresh lemon (nimbu) juice for taste and make the child gargle. (Only for children above 4 years)
Take some honey (shahad) and add a pinch of turmeric (haldi) and make the child eat 1 tablespoon of this.
Make a paste of basil (tulsi) and ginger (adrak). Mix 1/2 part of this paste with 3/4 part of honey (shahad) and give it to the child.
Roast about 2 tablespoons of ajwain (carom seeds) in a dry pan for a few minutes till the seeds let out their menthol-like aroma. Take a square shape muslin cloth, put ajwain (carom seeds) on it and carefully tie it into a nice potli and use it as a compress or just keep it next to your baby's nose while she/he is sleeping.
Make a paste out of garlic (lehsun), ajwain (carom seeds) & onion (pyaj) and warm it on the gas. When it is lukewarm apply it on the chest, back & forehead of the child and make the child rest.
Mix two cups of pineapple, with two inches of fresh ginger (adrak) juice and give it to the child twice a day.
For children one year and the older one can give kids one teaspoon (15 mL) of honey (shahad) mixed with cinnamon (dalchini) or mixing it with hot water, squeezed lemon, and as an option, turmeric and black pepper. One can give honey about half an hour before bed can help to get a better night’s sleep and settle a cough.
Keeping kids hydrated is very important to make them feel better. If the child has a cold or cough, so they won’t want to eat or drink much. Offer small amounts of food that contain more water like soup, applesauce, or watermelon to get the child to take more fluids.
Take edible camphor and sugar in equal proportion, grind it with honey (shahad) and make ½ pea-size tablet, store it in black pepper (kali mirch) powder. (black pepper keeps camphor intact in tablets), it helps in cold, wheezing, or running nose.
Take pippalimoola (the root of piper nigrum) powder, shallow fry in a pan with ghee and jaggery, then add water, adjust semi-liquid consistency, it helps to the expulsion of cough in children.
Take steam inhalation of camphor/ajwain/tulsi is very much beneficial for productive cough.
In winter before taking bath, take an oil massage it prevents the body from cold and prevents children from getting cold and cough.
In cold with fever and headache apply nutmeg (jaayaphal) powder with warm water on the head.
When consulting your doctor for cold in children?
Fast breathing or breathing problems, such as wheezing and pneumonia.
A cough that leads to choking, vomiting or trouble breathing.
Infrequent urination due to dehydration.
Has a high fever lasting longer than three or four days.
If the child has pink eye or ear infections.
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