The Dangers of a Common Cold to a Baby

Coryza or Common Cold is a highly infectious respiratory disease cause by viruses. To a full-grown adult, cold is a simple viral infection. However, to a baby, common cold is a very fatal illness. There are more than 100 types of virus known to cause cold. Even with the advancement of modern medical science, no cure has been formulated to stop the disease. Infants are highly prone to cold because their anti-bodies are not yet fully developed and cannot fight infections. Fever is a universal symptom; it is a sign of infection. Cold symptoms are usually typical; most respiratory diseases have the same symptoms. Prolonged cold in babies can result to serious complications. Pneumonia, bronchitis and middle ear infections are few of the serious complications involved. That is why doctors advised breast-feeding. Breast-feeding is very important to an infant since a mother's breast milk contains antibodies that cannot be found in infant formulated milk. Pediatricians advise mothers to breast feed their babies at least two weeks after birth. The reason to this is to promote immunity to the baby.

Common cold is long thought as a result to exposure to cold weather condition or changing weather condition. Cold can be transferred via droplets or airborne, this makes the diseases as highly contagious. Several drugs had been design to stop cold, but with more than a 100 cold causing viruses which might fail to stop the illness. Vitamin C is an essential remedy in fighting cold, though it boost your immune system against infection, once you have a cold no amount of vitamin C can cure you.

Complete bed rest is still the leading cold remedy. Resting your body is vital against infection. Medical researchers once suggested that a vaccine should be formulated against cold in babies, but failed to produce such a cure. Common cold is the leading reason why students and office workers are absent. Simple practices like cover your mouth during sneezing and coughing can be helpful to stop the spreading, especially if a baby is around. Another effective prevention from catching a cold is through proper hand wash. In case you take your baby to densely populated areas, make sure he or she is well protected against infections because a disease like common cold is very fatal to a baby.