How Long Do Your Kids Stay Sick??

Mine just got over this bug that has been going around (south of Nashville) and it was about 2 1/2 weeks of solid runny nose and cough. He always felt fine and never had a fever or anything, he would just get frustrated not being able to breathe. He still has a little bit of a cough. Sounds like the same bug.

HI S.
I am a stay at home mom of 6 month old twin boys and a daughter that will be 6 in two weeks. I learned from my daughter and her pediatrician a runny nose and cough can linger for weeks. I think if she is playing and her behavior is good no fever she is probably ok to go back to school.
F. G

my youngest daughter stayed sick for about 5 weeks this last time kind of off and on but always there. if there is no fever and she seems ok it could just be allergies also its been a crazy past few weeks with allergens.

The cough is what you need to watch and fever-- the nose... could go on for awhile. My 3 yo has allergies so her nose is always runny- she takes Zyrtec but I would wait to see how the cough goes and if it's another week-- go back and have her lungs and ears checked. One time I let my daughter go too long and she had walking pneumonia-- so I wait 2 weeks and go in and then I go weekly if it lingers....

Mel

this isn't your typical cold and it is really going around now. I know so many people, including myself, that have had a ongoing cold (mostly chest congestion, coughing) literally for weeks. Antibiotics didn't seem to help, so be as patient as you can. Ask about using Robitussin, it could help (but I don't know her age) if the cough is making her uncomfortable. This stuff is rampant right now. Some docs call it 'walking pneumonia' and may prescribe an antibiotic, but I'm not sure if they help...

I recall one winter season that my 4 year old son seemed to be sick with a cold/cough for the whole winter. We also went to the doctor who told me that he was suffering from a cold and would get better. If the time frame seemed long to me, it was because he was getting a new virus immediately after getting slightly better from the first one, so I probably wasn't noticing that he was actually getting separate colds. At the time, I said to myself - yeah, right. However, he did survive without any complications and we haven't yet had a repeat of that snotty winter (he's 9 now). Still, I think it is best to be watchful of complications like labored breathing, or other sign of respiratory infection. Stock up on kleenex and vick's vapor rub!

my 1-year-old was sick the entire month of september, and just got stuffy again a few days ago. from what i understand this is normal. their little immune systems just aren't built up enough at this stage to fight off colds like we can.

S.,
My son's (14 and 5) have had this same URI that has been going around,it unfortunately lasts 3-4 weeks.It is mainly lingering because of the contrast in weather we are having(cool in the am and then warming up in the afternoon and then cool again in the evening.)I have been pushing fluids,handwashing,and giving OTC guiafenisin with dextromorphan(cough and cold compounds) to ease the nasal stuffiness and cough.Luckily no fever or productive cough have occurred,but if it does,that is a prompt it possibly could be bacterial rather than viral and with the extended illness time a MD visit may be a good idea at that point.

I personally have a cold for 2-3 weeks every time. I know this is not normal, but its normal for me so I don't worry. My oldest if usually only sick 2-3 weeks. My baby seems to be more like me though. He's only 1yr and already been sick for several months combined with all the colds he's had. As long as it doesn't develop into an ear infection or settle into the chest I don't worry about it. When he runs a fever we go to the doctor to check but otherwise we don't. So far he's had nothing but a cold. Someone mentioned Walking pnuemonia which is far different from sinus congestion. Walking pneumonia has severe chest congestion and coughing along with it and can develop into fullblown pneumonia if not treated. It doesn't sound like your daughter has this and the doctor would most like have detected it if she saw him recently. If the congestion is all in her head/nose with productive cough from drainage down her throat then its probably nothing to worry about. If you hear rasping or wet sounds when you listen to her chest or she runs a high fever then take her back to the doctor.

That was happening with my son. He'd be fine during the day then cough like crazy at night. We found out it was allergies. He only gets it in the fall and it lasts about six weeks -- apparently some local tree releases its pollen then...

You could asked to get checked for that. Good luck.

I don't know how old your daughter is but if she is teething on top of having a cold it could last for a while. My little one caught a cold and it cleared up within a week. A month later I though he caught another cold but it lingered for weeks. I took him for his well child check up and asked the doctor and she told me that when they teeth they can have congested noses. So maybe you daughter is teething on top of having a cold which would make it seem like it's lasting a while.

My daughter just got over a cough that lasted 6 weeks... I gave her some homeopathic vitamin c with her tea every morning (herb tea) rose hips, and soon it finally went away... also gave her first defense, all immune boosting remedies. I didn't give her anything else . I felt a little like the irresponsible mom when we would be out in public and she would cough cuz it sounded so bad sometimes but she had no other symptoms and was feeling fine... they are stubborn. She didn't have a stopped up nose though... just make sure she's not eating too much dairy and stay clear of sweets. I think it's a real stubborn strain, time is the healer. She's is probably having drainage in the back of her throat which is causing the cough. If she feels fine then relax.

My son who is 12 now. Has always gotten a stuffy nose and a cough when it starts to get dry and cold outside. This might be the case for your daughter. What the doctor advised us to do is to use a humitifier (spelling I am sure isn't correct)and keep the temp down in their room at night. We also use saline drops for his nose that the doctor can prescribe for you. That seemed to help. If the stuffy discharge isn't yellow or green I wouldn't worry to much about it. Hope this helps.

I'm sure it is just a cold, and I'm no doc, but colds usually last 14 days to 2 weeks, whichever comes first (LOL) So it should be done, although it could just be one of those hang on ones. As parents we try to make sure our kids eat right and have proper nutrition and that would be one of the most important things you can do, is give her body the things it needs to heal itself. If you're nursing, make sure you're getting the nutrition you need. Is she old enough to be teething? It could be a combo of both the cold and that. I have an 8 month old granddaughter who had a tough time with her teeth.

Good morning. My boys' colds usually run 1.5-2 weeks long. After 3 weeks I would worry it has turned into a sinus infection. I would take here into the dr. to make sure. Just my opinion, though. Good luck!

hi S.. i usually give my kids 2 weeks (10-14 days) and then presume it's a sinus infection or some other secondary infection. 3 weeks is a long time to be under the weather. since october is high allergy season in my family, i wonder if your doctor looked into allergies. perhaps she needs zyrtec or simply an antibiotic to clear her up since it's surely not viral but bacterial by now. good luck. hope this helps!

My Daughter just got over a cold after 4 weeks!! Her pediatrician said this is normal and not to worry. She only felt bad for about 4 days, but the snot hung around for a while!

has the doc mentioned it could be allergies? Try giving her a benadryl or some type of allergy meds and see if her nose clears up temporarily. Also, try the nasal sprays, they usually help. You can also try a humidifier in her room at night to help moisten her nose. Dry heat makes you stuffy, when you first turn the heat on in your house, it may get worse. If there is a cough, it should not last more than 10 days w/ out the doc seeing her.

My daughter has been the same way for about 3 weeks. She had started to show some signs of improvement for a few days and then it hit again. No fever, just the stuffy nose with sinus drainage and horrible cough. Unfortunately, I have the same thing going on. I am so sore from coughing and I know she must be too.

Dear S.,
There is a similar question being asked right now, check out:

http://www.mamasource.com/profile/11655634649597607937/8

Good luck!

S.:
Your daughter may have allergies instead of just a cold. I feel that a lot of doctors give the "cold" diagnosis, just
to appease us! My daughter (now grown) and I both suffered
with allergies for years....mold, pollen, trees, grasses. We both had allergy testing and had injections which worked out
wonderfully. We were rarely sick while receiving the injections, and after a time we were able to only have them every other week. Also, the needle they use is extremely small, so pain is not that bad at all. It is more than worth it for the results we had. Good luck and God Bless!
CL-Tennessee

Hopefully there is no fever. Please give plenty of fluids. Ask for a chest x-ray.

Our oldest had cough and runny nose for 5 weeks....no fever or anything else. I kept taking him every week just to be told same thing ...let it run it's course.Ahhhh