Health Tip: My Infant Has a Cold

Contact the pediatrician if you notice these symptoms

(HealthDay News) -- While most cases of the common cold in young children are harmless, there are certain warning signs that should prompt a call to the pediatrician.

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers this list of "red flags" among children 3 months or older:

  • Nostrils that spread with each breath, difficulty breathing, or the skin near the ribs "sucks in" when the child breaths.
  • A blue tinge to the nails or lips.
  • Nasal mucus that doesn't go away after 10 to 14 days.
  • Persistent cough that lasts for longer than a week.
  • Ear pain.
  • Unusual sleepiness or crankiness.
  • A temperature higher than 102 degrees Fahrenheit (38.9 degrees Celsius).
Diana Kohnle

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