A URI, or upper respiratory infection, is an infection which can lead to a runny nose and congestion. In a young infant, the small size of the air passages through the nose and between the ear and throat can cause problems not seen as often in larger children and adults. Infants and young children average 6 to 8 upper respiratory infections each year.
A URI can be caused by many different viruses. Your child may have caught the virus from another person or got it from touching something with the virus on it.
Symptoms may include:
Your child's health care provider will review the symptoms and may look in your child's ears to make sure there is not an ear infection.
Because your baby has such small nasal air passages, congestion and mucus can cause trouble breathing. Most babies do not eat well when they are having trouble breathing. Use a small bulb and saline drops to help clear the air passages. Put 1 drop of warm water or saline into each nostril (one nostril at a time). Gently remove the mucus with the bulb about a minute later. Your health care provider can show you how this is done.
Antibiotics can kill bacteria, but not viruses. If your child has a viral illness such as a URI, an antibiotic will not help. If your child has an ear infection caused by bacteria, your health care provider may prescribe an antibiotic to treat it.
Symptoms usually begin 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus, and can last 1 to 2 weeks.
Viruses causing an URI are spread from person to person, so try to avoid exposing your baby to people who have cold symptoms. Avoiding crowded places (such as shopping malls or supermarkets) can help decrease exposures, especially during the fall and winter months when many people have colds. Keeping hands clean can also help slow the spread of viruses. Ask people who touch your baby to wash their hands first.
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