The common cold (also called an upper respiratory infection (URI) is an infection (in-FEK-shun) that can affect your child's nose, throat, ears, and sinuses. The common cold (URI) is usually not serious and does not need special treatment. Healthy children usually get at least five to eight colds each year. Although URIs may occur year round, in the United States, most colds occur during fall and winter.

Antibiotics do not help fight viruses such as the ones that cause the common cold and taking antibiotics when you have a virus may do more harm than good. Taking antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.

Anyone can get the common cold (URI). It is caused by a germ called a virus and is easily spread from person to person by coughing, sneezing, or touching hands. It is the leading cause of acute illness and missed days from school or work. The common cold (URI) is a frequent reason for children visiting the doctor's office. How your child feels depends upon the virus that has caused the infection. Your child may have some or many of the following signs and symptoms:

• Chills and a fever. The fever usually lasts one to three days.
• Headache, body aches, or sore muscles.
• Runny or stuffed up nose.
• Decreased hunger or thirst.
• Red, watery, and sore eyes.
• Sneezing and coughing.
• Sore throat. Your child may become hoarse (lose his voice) for a few days.
• Tired or fussy.

• Colds are especially high among children, happening 6-10 times per year.
• Studies have found that as many as 22 percent of office visits for the common cold (URI) for children under 15 years of age result in an antibiotic prescription.
• An estimated $227 million is spent each year on 7.4 million patients for inappropriate treatment for upper respiratory infection (URI).
• The $40 billion annual economic impact of URI exceeds that of other common conditions such as hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), congestive heart failure and asthma.

There is no cure for viral illnesses such as the common cold. There is no medicine that will make the cold go away. Antibiotic (an-ti-bi-OT-ik) medicine will not work on illnesses caused by a virus, such as a cold.

You can use the quality reports on this site to compare how often doctors’ offices treat the common cold (URI) the way it should be treated. The report shows how often patients did not get antibiotics for a common cold. Higher scores are better.

References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “What Everyone Should Know and Do: Snort. Sniffle. Sneeze. No Antibiotics Please!” Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010. Retrieved March 13, 2012 http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/antibiotic-use/know-and-do.html

Meneghetti, A. “Upper Respiratory Tract Infection.” Medscape Reference. Ed. Zab Mosenifar, MD. 2011. Tufts University School of Medicine. March 13, 2012

One of the most important aspects of pediatric care is well child visits for children ages 3 to 6 years old. Children ages 3 to 6 years old should have at least one well child visit each year. A well child visit is important so your child's doctor can keep your child in good health by checking his/her growth and development and give you advice specific to the age of your child. Each visit is a chance to work with your child's doctor as part of a team, to focus on your child and discuss ways to promote your child's growth and development. This is also an important time to ensure that your child has all the proper immunizations. Well child visits should also provide important information and guidance for you as a parent.

Each visit is made up of many parts, including getting a medical history, asking questions or health screenings, and performing a physical examination. In addition to a physical examination, each visit will focus on areas specific to your child’s age. The focus areas for each age are discussed below.

• Family support (family decisions, sibling rivalry, work balance)
• Encouraging literacy activities (singing, talking, describing, observing, reading)
• Playing with peers (interactive games, play opportunities)
• Promoting physical activity (limits on inactivity)
• Safety (car safety seats, pedestrian safety)

• School readiness (structured learning experiences, opportunities to socialize with other children, fears, friends, fluency)
• Developing healthy personal habits (daily routines that promote health)
• Television/media (limits on viewing, promotion of physical activity and safe play)
• Child and family involvement and safety in the community (activities outside the home, community projects, educational programs, relating to peers and adults)
• Safety (belt positioning booster seats, supervision, outdoor safety)

• School readiness (established routines, after-school care and activities, parent-teacher communication, friends, bullying, maturity, management of disappointments, fears)
• Mental health (family time, routines, temper problems, social interactions)
• Nutrition and physical activity (healthy weight; appropriate well balanced diet; increased fruit, vegetable, whole-grain consumption; adequate calcium intake; 60 minutes of exercise a day)
• Oral health (regular visits with dentist, daily brushing and flossing, adequate fluoride)
• Safety (pedestrian safety, booster seat, safety helmets, swimming safety, fire escape/drill plan and smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors/alarms)