Cough and Cold

Subject: Child Health Nursing

Overview

Many different viruses work together to generate the upper respiratory tract illness known as the common cold. As a youngster, you are more likely to contract this than any other ailment. Adenoviruses, Influenza viruses, and Parainfluenza viruses are the most frequent types of viruses. Nutritional deficiencies, exhaustion, mental distress, and crowding all increase susceptibility to the common cold. In terms of symptoms, the common cold manifests itself with fever, sneezing, rhinorrhea, trouble breathing, and so on. Likewise, An infected secretion is released from the trachea and bronchi, and a cough is a frequent sign of both acute and chronic respiratory tract infection as well as an important defensive mechanism of the respiratory system. Keep the child warm in a comfortable position, encourage the child to drink plenty of hot drinks, provide steam inhalation if appropriate, provide nasal decongestant as prescribed, encourage the child to bring out expectoration, and refer the child to a medical facility if the cough is not under control.

Cold (common cold)

Many different viruses work together to generate the upper respiratory tract illness known as the common cold. As a youngster, you are more likely to contract this than any other ailment. Adenoviruses, Influenza viruses, and Parainfluenza viruses are the most frequent types of viruses.

Incubation period:

  • 2-3 days up to weeks

Risk factors:

  • Poor nutritional status of children
  • Fatigue
  • Emotionally upset
  • Overcrowding

Clinical presentations:

  • Fever up to 104-degree f
  • Sneezing
  • Rhinorrhea
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Difficulty in sucking and malaise

Diagnosis:

  • History and presentations of the children.

Treatment:

Treatment focuses on symptomatic management that includes:

  • Antipyretic drugs e.g paracetamol for fever.
  • Nasal decongestant drops for nasal congestion e.g. phenylephrine, cromolyn sodium, or beclomethasone. 4-6 times per day topically.
  • Encourage them to take plenty of hot drinks orally.
  • Continue breastfeeding/nutritious diet.
  • Avoid exposure to too cold a dusty environment.
  • Home remedies: Tulasi tea, honey, and Tulasi mixture of one teaspoon two times a day.

Complication:

  • Laryngitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Pneumonia
  • Otitis media
  • Bronchiolitis

 

Cough

Coughing is a frequent sign of both acute and chronic infections of the respiratory tract, and it also serves as a vital defensive mechanism for the respiratory system by expelling infectious secretion from the trachea and bronchi.

Causes:

  • Hypersecretion of mucus and overflow into the pharynx.
  • Inflammation of the middle or lower respiratory tract.
  • Irritant particles.

Clinical presentation:

A cough: acute/persistent, dry/productive, and may associate with fever or without fever.

Treatment:

  • Removal of cause
  • Hot drinks if applicable
  • Clean nostril 3-4 times a day or as per need
  • Psychological support

Nursing care of a child with a cold and cough

  • Keep the child warm in a comfortable position.
  • Encourage them to take plenty of hot drinks.
  • Provide steam inhalation if applicable.
  • Provide nasal decongestant as prescribed.
  • Avoid exposure to too hot, cold, and dusty environments.
  • Advice for home treatment.
  • Encourage a child to bring out expectoration if possible and if a cough is not controlled refer the child to a health care facility.
  • Clean the nostril areas with soft cotton soaked in normal saline 3-4 times a day and teach the mother about it.

 

 

 
Things to remember
  • Many different viruses work together to generate the upper respiratory tract illness known as the common cold.
  • As a youngster, you are more likely to contract this than any other ailment.
  • Adenovirus, Influenza virus, and Parainfluenza virus are some of the most prevalent viruses.
  • In terms of symptoms, the common cold manifests itself with fever, sneezing, rhinorrhea, trouble breathing, and so on.
  • An infected secretion is released from the trachea and bronchi, and a cough is a frequent sign of both acute and chronic respiratory tract infection as well as an important defensive mechanism of the respiratory system.
  • Keep the child warm in a comfortable position, encourage the child to drink plenty of hot drinks, provide steam inhalation if appropriate, provide nasal decongestant as prescribed, encourage the child to bring out expectoration, and refer the child to a medical facility if the cough is not under control.
Questions and Answers

The upper respiratory tract is infected with the common cold, which is brought on by numerous viruses. It is one of the more prevalent illnesses in children. Adenovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza viruses are the most prevalent viruses.

Coughing is one of the most prevalent signs of both acute and chronic respiratory tract infections. It is also a vital respiratory system defense mechanism that aids in clearing the infected secretion from the trachea and bronchi.

Treatment focuses on symptomatic management that includes:

  • Medications that reduce fever, such as paracetamol.
  • For nasal congestion, use nasal decongestant drops such as beclomethasone, phenylephrine, or cromolyn sodium. Apply topically 4-6 times daily.
  • Encourage drinking a lot of hot beverages orally.
  • Continue breastfeeding and eating a healthy diet.
  • Avoid being around an atmosphere that is excessively chilly and dusty.
  • Home remedies: one tea spoon each of Tulasi tea, honey, and the Tulasi mixture twice daily.

Treatment:

  • Removal of cause,
  • Hot drinks if applicable,
  • Clean nostril 3-4 times a day or as per need,
  • Psychological support.

Nursing Care of Child with Cold and Cough

  • Place the youngster in a cozy spot and keep them warm.
  • Encourage drinking a lot of hot beverages.
  • If necessary, provide steam inhalation.
  • As directed, provide nasal decongestant.
  • Avoid being around extreme temperatures and dusty environments.
  • Advice for self-care.
  • If at all possible, encourage a child to cough out expectoration; if the cough cannot be controlled, refer the child to a medical facility.
  • Clean the nostril areas by soft cotton soaked in normal saline 3-4 times a day and teach mother about it

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