Cold - Lees Summit,MO

M.,

The others are right about the humidifier...it will help alot. And it very much sounds like a secondary infection. I would definately at least call the nurse at your doctor's office and ask to have her checked out again. These can go respitory pretty easy, especially if it is a dry cough...the phlegm coming up would be better. Never heard of the vicks on the feet, but it sure doesn't hurt to put it on the chest, I actually prefer the baby vicks..the kids don't mind it as much. Hope your little ones get some relief!

If she is having nose bleeds so often I would suggest running a humidifier in the house....or boiling a pot of water during your waking hours....to get the humidity up in the house.
For the congestion...possibly some generic ocean spray to help loosed in up a little...you can use it as often as you would like...and it really does help to get the sinuses cleared out.
I will give you the same advice that I have given on here before....go to your pharmacist and ask him/her what to get to help. There are products out there that are safe to use for children over the age of two and your pharmacist is your best resource. I know that there is mucinex which is available for children but I am not sure at what age you are supposed to be able to start using it. Mucinex is great for breaking up congestion...but you really have to increase her water intake for it to work most effectively.
There is also a childrens mentholatum rub that would be both soothing to her and help break that congestion up.
Good luck!!! I hope she feels better soon
R. Ann

M.,

Oh, I feel for ya. Makes me wonder if she has a secondary infection. Please try a saline nose spray for those bloody noses. Keeping her nasal passages moist will also help with not having so many colds.

Also use a humidifier in the girls' rooms. I'm sure you've heard that before.

For the cough: this may sound crazy, but a good friend told me this works!! At night before bed, slather some Vicks on the bottoms of their feet!! She said it'll make the cough go away. I also heard on "The Doctors" to give a spoonful of honey for a cough during the day... but NOT to babies under one year old.

I know, once one kid has an illness, it's just a matter of time before the rest of the family follows suit.

I hope your girls get over the crud and back go normal very soon! God bless, ls

It could be RSV which for older kids is has similiar cold symptoms but also has a fever. The virus produces a very thick mucus. There really isn't a treatment for RSV, just treat the symptoms and keep them comfy. With younger kids (kids under 2 typically), you have to watch them closely for signs of resp distress, as the thick mucus can clog up their airways. A cool-mist vaporizer may help. Just in case it is RSV, I would watch your little guy carefully and try to keep the older ones away from him (a challenge I know if your daughters love their brother as much as mine!!). The RSV virus can live on surfaces for up to 12 hours and is very contagious, so wash hands frequently and use hand sanitizers and lysol everything. My husband always gets bloody noses this time of year, so it may just be something your daughter is prone to. Best of luck!