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While there's no real cure for the common cold, there are ways you can help reduce the symptoms, such as a fever, until it runs its course. Choose a pain relieving medicine to help reduce the fever, depending on your age or the age of a child who has the cold. There are also lots of home remedies you can use to treat your cold and fever, such as taking sponge baths, staying hydrated, and keeping the room temperature comfortable. If you or your child has had a fever for more than 3 days, call your doctor for medical advice.
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[[Category:Fever Care]]
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[[Category:Alternative Health]]
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==Steps==
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===Using Medicine to Relieve Your Symptoms===
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#Avoid giving cough or cold medicine to children under 6 years. These medicines don’t usually help with their symptoms, and they can actually cause negative side effects in younger kids like stomach pain or vomiting. Instead of using a cough or cold medicine, look for a children’s pain reliever to help ease their symptoms, if desired. <ref>https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/treat_cold_fever_children</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*It’s especially important to avoid giving medicine to a baby younger than 6 months as there is a high risk of accidental overdose. This is because these medications are based on a child’s weight, not their age.
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#Give acetaminophen to kids younger than 6 months to help with fever. Acetaminophen, such as Infants’ Tylenol, is safe to give to your child if they’re under 6 months old. If you’d like to help your child’s fever go down, look for Infants’ Tylenol at your local drugstore or big box store. Make sure you’re using a type specifically for children, following the instructions on the label to know how much to give them.<ref>https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cold-remedies-that-work/</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Follow the dosage instructions depending on the exact weight of your child. For example, the suggested dose for a baby who weighs between is .<ref> https://ift.tt/2tEIZUY>
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#*Wait the amount of time suggested on the instructions before giving your child another dose.
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#*Take children younger than 3 months old to the doctor if they have a fever of or higher, and take children ages 3-6 months to the doctor if they have a fever of or higher.
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#Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen for kids older than 6 months old. To help treat a fever in kids older than 6 months, look for Children’s Motrin, Children’s Tylenol, or Children’s Advil. Only choose one to give to your child, and follow the dosage instructions to know exactly how much to give them.<ref>https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351611</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Don’t give your child multiple medicines with the same active ingredient—this could lead to an overdose. Use one medicine at a time to prevent combining the wrong ingredients.
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#*Wait the proper amount of time according to the dosage instructions before giving your child another dose.
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#*Kids ages 6 months to 3 years should go to the doctor if they have a fever of or higher.
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#Take acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin for a fever if you’re an adult. Pain relievers that are listed as helping reduce fevers are safe for adults to take, such as Aspirin, Tylenol, or Motrin. Follow the dosage instructions and wait the appropriate amount of time before taking another dose, as listed on the medicine’s packaging.<ref>https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cold-remedies-that-work/</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Never given Aspirin to people 19 years old or younger because it can increase the risk of contracting Reye's syndrome, which causes damage to the brain and liver.
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#Try using nasal drops or sprays to help with congestion. Nasal drops can be put in children’s noses to help them breathe more easily when they have a cold. Adults and children over the age of 6 can use nasal sprays as well. Follow the instructions on the specific type of nasal spray or drops to know how to use them properly and safely.<ref>https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351611</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Look for decongesting nasal drops or sprays at your local drugstore or big box store.
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===Using Home Remedies===
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#Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. This includes things like water, juice, or drinks with electrolytes. Fevers often make you feel dehydrated, so it’s important to continue drinking liquids throughout the day.<ref>https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Treating-a-Fever-Without-Medicine.aspx</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Stay away from caffeinated drinks, as these can make your dehydration worse.
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#*To soothe a sore throat and help with hydration, drink tea or warm lemon water with honey. However, this is only suitable for adults and children over 1 year. Never give honey to a child under 1 year old.
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#*For kids, try giving them diluted fruit juices, Jell-O, or popsicles if they’re not motivated to drink water.
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#Give sponge baths to younger kids to help reduce fever. Fill a tub with of lukewarm water, or water that's roughly . Use a clean washcloth to gently spread the water over their arms, legs, and rest of the body. If they start to shiver, take them out of the tub and wrap them in a towel—shivering can increase a fever.<ref>https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/fever/Pages/Treating-a-Fever-Without-Medicine.aspx</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 8 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Sponge baths are useful for reducing fever if you or your child is allergic to pain relievers.
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#*Never use cold water or ice to help reduce fevers—these cause chills can make the fever worse.
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#*Using a sponge bath for 30-45 minutes can reduce a fever by 1-2 degrees.
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#Stay at a comfortable temperature by dressing lightly. Hiding under lots of blankets or heavy clothing won’t help a fever go down. Instead, dress in light layers that can easily be removed if you’re hot or cold, and use a thin blanket or sheet if necessary.<ref>https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/treat_cold_fever_children</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 9 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Adjust the room temperature if needed so that you’re at a comfortable temperature and don’t need lots of blankets.
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#Eat chicken soup to help loosen congestion. Chicken soup is a common cold food because it’s warm, contains protein, and actually helps loosen up mucus to help with any congestion you’re feeling. Warm up chicken soup or a different kind of broth to eat when you have a cold.<ref>https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20351611</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 10 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Soups and broths are also a great way to stay hydrated as they’re mostly liquids.
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#Soothe a sore throat by gargling with saltwater or using lozenges. Mix salt with water and gargle to help relieve a sore throat, or suck on medicated lozenges that help soothe a sore throat instead. Look for lozenges or throat sprays designed to help sore throats at your local drugstore or big box store.<ref>https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/home-remedies-cold-remedies-that-work/</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 11 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*Children under 6 years shouldn’t use these methods—they likely can’t gargle well, and lozenges are a choking hazard.
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#*Take an over-the-counter medicine to help with your sore throat like ibuprofen.
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#*Visit the doctor if your sore throat isn't getting better after 2 days and you have a fever higher than .
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#Run a humidifier in your home, especially at night. This may help to loosen congestion and prevent a sore throat from breathing in dry air. If you don’t have a humidifier, try taking a warm shower and inhaling the steam while you’re in there.<ref>https://www.shape.com/lifestyle/mind-and-body/skip-benadryl-natural-ways-relieve-congestion</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 12 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*If you don’t have time for a shower, fill your bathroom sink or a bowl with very hot water and lean over it with a towel over your head. Inhale the steam for about 10 minutes to help loosen congestion.
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#Rest as much as possible. It’s likely that you’ll feel more tired than usual when you have a cold and fever. Try to sleep and take it easy as much as possible to help your body recover faster. Spend time napping, sitting and reading, watching television, or other restful activities.<ref>https://familydoctor.org/condition/colds-and-the-flu/</ref>[[Image:Treat a Cold with a Fever Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]
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#*This doesn’t mean that you have to stay in bed the entire time, just don’t overexert yourself by doing things like exercising or going lots of different places.
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==Tips==
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*Avoid spreading your cold to others by washing your hands after you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose.
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*Use a humidifier to keep a room from getting too dry.
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*If your nose is feeling raw from blowing it so often, rub petroleum jelly on the sore areas to help soothe it.
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==Warnings==
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*If your child is 6 months old or younger and has a fever warmer than , call your doctor.
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*Contact your doctor if your child has a fever for more than 3 days.
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*Never give children multiple medicines that have the same active ingredients, such as antihistamine, decongestant, or pain reliever.
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==References==
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__METHODS__
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