There are over 200 extremely contagious viruses responsible for giving your little one cold, cough and flu symptoms. On average, a baby has around 5-7 colds a year, which can make them miserable for up to 10 days, while a cough can persist for up to a fortnight.

Cold:
Since your baby’s immune system is not yet mature, it is extremely vulnerable to cold pathogens. Sneezes and coughs from infected people leave germs in the air that can wreak havoc on the little critter’s immune system, and can also be spread through physical contact with the infected person or surfaces.
Symptoms: sneezing, sore throat, runny nose and difficulty swallowing.

Cough:
Coughing can be a serious or trivial condition depending on the age of the baby. If your baby is less than 4 months old then it may be something to worry about especially in winters as it could be a dangerous viral infection. For babies older than one year, coughing is less distressing, as it may be due to a common cold, or sometimes the body’s reflex action to clear the throat and nasal airways.

Flu
The flu or influenza virus is airborne, highly contagious, and spreads in the same way as the common cold. If the flu is widespread in your community, then you should watch for symptoms more cautiously. Most of the time, the doctor can easily identify the flu, however, in some cases, tests may be needed, especially if your baby is prone to other chronic health problems such as asthma, heart disease, or HIV. In addition, for the little ones from 0 to 5 years old it is highly recommended to get vaccinated against the flu.
Symptoms: Fever above 101 degrees F, chills, muscle aches, headache, dry cough, and runny nose.

When your child is suffering from a cold, cough, or flu, make sure they drink plenty of fluids, especially since they may not want to eat much due to decreased appetite. They need to get plenty of rest, and doctors sometimes recommend a dose of paracetamol to ease their discomfort. Give your little angel lots of attention while she recovers from these horrible diseases.