Hi, may I answer your health queries right now ? Please type your query here... HI, got an 18 motnh old little girl (my granddaughter) with a cold since thursday night. Started coughing on thursday night (a little) and I thought it was because when I gave her some baby paracetamol for her teething pain, she chocked a bit with the medicine. Next day, Friday, she was with more cough and runny nose, bit of fever and. I phoned a Dr to speak with on Saturday afternoon but was attended by a nurse and she told me it s probably a viral thing. Not to worry ( I was worried as baby was fighting during night with phlemgs). Yesterday Monday, she seemed playful and hungry but still coughing and sneesing, had a bad night coughing as well and this morning nose was more wet than before. She had cereals with milk for breakfast ( a bit) and when I was giving her lunck she was coughing and started to vomit, but then the vomiting was been expeled farder away, violently, 3 times. Her temperature 38.4 she wont take medicine(paracetamol) I ve tried my best but she fights and cries and does not want it. Sleeping now and coughing. Should I take her to a Dr? I m worried but Drs. seem to think that I panic at anything too soon when related to my granddaughter. Her mum is working but I can call her if needed. I look after baby since she was born. Please, help. Thank you.
Hi... Thank you for consulting in Chat Doctor. Cough and cold are viral 95% of the times in child Chat Doctor.  For cold, you can use anti-allergics like cetirizine and for nose block, saline nasal decongestants will do. Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15 mg/kg/dose (max ceiling dose 500 mg) every 4-6th hourly, that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol. For cold, you can use Cetirizine at 0.25 mg/kg/dose every 12 hourly for 3 days. For nasal block, plain saline nasal 