Pediatric Viral Infections Treatment

In most cases, home care is the best for viral infections – with your mother’s advice of plenty of rest and fluids still a good rule of thumb. Your WellStar pediatrician might suggest pain medication as needed – and remember it is not safe to give either honey to babies less than 12 months old or aspirin to children.

For Stuffy Noses

• For babies younger than three months, use saline (saltwater) nose drops to thin nasal discharge. Place a few drops of the saline into each nostril followed by gentle bulb suction.
• During the illness, use a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer in your child's room.
• This helps moisten the air and may help clear your child's nasal passages.

To Relieve A Cough

For a child aged four years and older, cough drops or lozenges may help soothe the throat. Do not give cough drops or lozenges to a child younger than four years because he/she could choke on them.