Pedemy · For parents
Colds and cough medicines — notes
Note the pattern below and bring your questions and current medicines to the visit. This record does not diagnose or choose treatment.
Use these notes with your child’s clinician. This tool does not diagnose illness, prescribe treatment or confirm that home care is safe.
Emergency help now
Call local emergency services for severe breathing difficulty, blue/gray lips, collapse, a seizure with failure to recover, or a child who is very difficult to wake. Do not delay to complete this tool.
Contact a healthcare professional
Seek urgent care for labored breathing, dehydration or marked sleepiness. Contact a clinician for worsening after initial improvement, persistent fever or cough lasting over 3 weeks. A sudden cough after choking needs assessment for an inhaled object. A baby younger than 3 months with a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher needs urgent medical assessment, even if they look well. Do not delay assessment to try medicine or complete a diary.
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Care reminders
- Most childhood colds are viral. A cough can linger after the nose improves, and green mucus alone does not mean antibiotics are needed. Watch breathing, drinking and activity rather than mucus color alone.
- Use saline nose drops and gentle suction for a blocked infant nose. Offer fluids. Never give honey under 12 months. US AAP guidance advises no OTC cough/cold medicines under 4 years; ages 4–6 only with clinician advice. Check ingredients to avoid duplicate medicines.
- Seek urgent care for labored breathing, dehydration or marked sleepiness. Contact a clinician for worsening after initial improvement, persistent fever or cough lasting over 3 weeks. A sudden cough after choking needs assessment for an inhaled object.