| Although, your baby will experience on | | | | week. |
| average eight to ten colds and a variety of | | | | |
| other common ailments during his or her first | | | | Flu |
| year, the good news is that most of these | | | | |
| illnesses go away rapidly without any type of | | | | Influenza or flu is caused by a respiratory |
| medical treatment. And, the coughs and | | | | virus and is sometimes confused with the |
| sniffles experienced while in infancy serve | | | | common cold. Spread from person to person, it |
| an important purpose of building a mature | | | | is most common during the winter months. |
| immune system. | | | | While the symptoms are similar to a cold, |
| | | | they are generally more severe with a sudden |
| Colds | | | | onset of fever, chills, extreme fatigue, and |
| | | | a dry hacking cough. |
| Colds are caused by viruses that are | | | | |
| generally transferred directly from person to | | | | Unlike with colds, there is a vaccine to |
| person via sneezes and coughs or through | | | | prevent the flu. They are considered safe and |
| indirect contact such as touching a toy or | | | | effective and are commonly recommended for |
| bottle of another child who is infected. | | | | children over the age of six months. |
| Common symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, | | | | |
| low-grade fever (less than 38.9 degrees | | | | Ear Infections |
| Celsius), sore throat, cough, and overall | | | | |
| irritability. Most children do not need to | | | | One of the most painful and frustrating |
| see a doctor for a common cold unless the | | | | illnesses for small children is an ear |
| illness becomes more serious. However, if he | | | | infection. They are extremely common during |
| or she is younger than three months of age, | | | | cold and flu season but can happen at any |
| it is important to call your paediatrician at | | | | time throughout the year. Babies with ear |
| the first sign of illness, as symptoms can | | | | infections show symptoms such as ear tugging |
| sometimes be misleading and more serious than | | | | or pulling, difficulty feeding, crying, |
| they initially appear. | | | | trouble sleeping, and fever (up to 40 degrees |
| | | | Celsius). You may also see blood-tinged fluid |
| There is no known cure for a cold. | | | | draining from the ear. |
| Antibiotics that are helpful in fighting | | | | |
| bacterial infections have no effect on colds. | | | | If you suspect your baby has an ear |
| Thus, the best thing that you can do is keep | | | | infection, call your paediatrician as soon as |
| your baby comfortable, provide extra fluids, | | | | possible. Depending on the severity of the |
| lots of rest, and possibly give a fever | | | | condition, your baby may be prescribed an |
| reducing medication, if necessary. Most | | | | antibiotic to clear it up. |
| children recover from colds in less than a | | | | |