Sniffles, Sneezes and Coughs, Oh My

Kids and colds seem to go hand in hand. It’s not unusual for kids to have three to six colds a year. And while colds can make kids miserable, these pesky ailments are normal and maybe even helpful.

“Colds can have a protective effect on kids’ bodies, boost their immune systems and may reduce their risk for allergies,” says Deepa Rastogi, MD, a pediatric pulmonologist at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and an assistant professor of Pediatrics at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

But if your child seems to have frequent or never-ending cold-like symptoms — including a runny or stuffy nose, or frequent sneezing or coughing — it may be time to consider other possible causes of your child’s symptoms.

“It can be difficult for parents to tell when their kids have colds and when they may be showing signs of allergies or asthma, especially when symptoms first start,” says Larry Bernstein, MD, a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at CHAM and an associate clinical professor of Pediatrics at Albert Einstein. “The key differences between colds and allergies or asthma are how long the symptoms last and how frequently the symptoms come back.”

Cold symptoms last about a week to 10 days and then clear completely. Allergy symptoms typically last longer. Kids who have seasonal allergies may have symptoms for six to eight weeks, while those allergic to indoor allergens can have nearly constant symptoms. Allergies, colds, exercise or other factors can trigger asthma symptoms at any time. Keep in mind that kids generally don’t get bronchitis. Frequent coughing, especially at night, can be a symptom of asthma.

“Allergies and asthma often go together, but they aren’t the same thing,” Dr. Bernstein explains. “Kids who have allergies are more likely to develop asthma. And kids with asthma who need controller medicines all year long to control their asthma should be evaluated for allergies because the allergies may be triggering their asthma symptoms.”

So what should you do if you suspect that your child may have more than a common cold? When symptoms first start, you can give your child over-the-counter cold medications to help relieve his or her symptoms or let the cold run its course naturally. When your child’s cold-like symptoms last longer than 10 days or there seems to be a pattern — your child gets symptoms at certain times of the year or after exposure to certain substances — talk with your child’s doctor about whether it’s time for a further evaluation. Diagnosing and treating allergies or asthma can help ease your child’s discomfort.

“One of the first steps parents can take to help their children is to try to identify and help their kids avoid things that trigger their allergies or asthma,” Dr. Rastogi says. “We also have very good medications that can help control allergies and prevent full-blown asthma attacks in most kids. With appropriate treatment, most kids with allergies or asthma should be able to do the same activities that other kids do.”

Is It a Cold, Allergies or Asthma?

	Colds	Allergies	Asthma
Symptoms	Runny or stuffy nose, congestion, coughing, sneezing, sore or scratchy throat, fever, aches and pains.	Runny or stuffy nose, thin clear drainage, congestion, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, watery and itchy eyes.	Wheezing, coughing (especially at night).
Symptoms May Last	A week to 10 days.	As long as kids are exposed to the allergen. Kids may have seasonal symptoms from exposure to pollen, ragweed or other outside allergens. They may have chronic symptoms if allergic to dust mites, animal dander or other indoor allergens.	Asthma can be related to allergies. Kids may have asthma flare-ups when they have cold or allergy symptoms, exercise or are exposed to other asthma triggers.

For a referral to an allergy or asthma specialist at CHAM, call 1-877-MONTE-KIDS. To learn more about CHAM’s Asthma Center and Pulmonary Function Testing Service visit: www.montekids.org/asthma