Question
A one-and-a-half-year-old child has been experiencing a slightly stuffy nose during afternoon naps every day, with snoring sounds. This has been going on for some time. The child is still energetic during the day, but for the past few days, there has been a stuffy nose and snoring, and today, there has been a runny nose. Although there hasn’t been a high fever and the child is still in good spirits, sleep has been poor at night due to the stuffy nose, and there seems to be a trend of fever worsening. The parents are considering giving the child some medicine. They would like to ask the doctor what medication is most effective? How long does the illness usually last? Have any tests or detailed examinations been conducted?
Answer
The child’s symptoms are consistent with a cold, and if there is no fever, oral medication can be administered. You can use fruit-flavored ‘Gugu’ syrup and amoxicillin dry syrup. A one-and-a-half-year-old child should take the medication according to the dosage instructions on the label. If stuffiness at night is causing sleep issues, you can use 2-3 drops of 2% ribavirin nasal drops every 1-2 hours. I hope these suggestions will be effective for the baby. During the cold, pay attention to giving the child a light diet, drinking plenty of water during the day; try to avoid taking the child to crowded places with many people. Please closely monitor any changes in the condition, and if the child develops a fever, it’s best to take them to the hospital.