Winter has arrived, and with it comes cold and flu season. Viruses are responsible for most of the winter illnesses. Therefore, antibiotics have zero effect on cure or prevent these illnesses. Therefore, the treatment is aimed to relieve the annoying symptoms. Taking plenty of rest increased intake of fluids, and some home remedies can help in relieving symptoms.

What Are The Most Common Winter Illness in Children?

Whatever measures you undertake to keep your child away from the winter bugs, your baby probably won't get through winter without catching an infection. Here are some of the common winter health problems(diseases) your child may suffer and home remedies for the same:

#1. Cold

It is found that 99 percent of children catch a cold more than three times a year. Chilly winter days further increases the chance of catching a cold of the child.

How Do You Know If Baby Has A Cold?

The runny nose, stuffy nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing, are the primary symptoms of cold in children. Fever and loss of appetite can also accompany cold in children. 

What Are The Home Remedies For Cold in Children?

Avoid giving cold medicines for children under six years. Here are some effective home remedies for the common cold in children -

• Drinking warm turmeric milk is an effective way to fight cold and cough.
• Drinking lukewarm water frequently will help a lot in combating cold. Adding little honey into it will boost its efficiency
• Give the child carrot juice. This home remedy is great to fight the common cold
• Ask the child to sit in the bathroom with a steamed hot shower. This will help to ease nasal congestion.

How Long Does Cold Lasts In Babies?

Usually cold lasts about five to seven days in babies. More Often colds go away on their own after about seven to 10 days. Generally, no medication other than home remedies is required.

#2. Fever

Fever is nothing but a symptom rather than a disease. Temperature less than 102 degrees points out that the immune system of your little one is trying to fight off an infection. You can try the following natural fever remedies not only to ease your child's discomfort but also to prevent intensifying their temperature.

What Are The Home Remedies For Fever?

• Give child sponge bath with lukewarm water
• Increase the fluid intake to avoid dehydration. Feed the child hot chicken/ vegetable soup.
• Bathe the child in lukewarm water. Adding a cup of apple cider vinegar to bathing water will increase the result to a great extent. Apple cider bath is one of the most popular home remedies for fever.
• Dress baby lightly.

When Should You Worry About A Baby's Fever?

If your baby is under the age of 2 or 3 months any hike in temperature deserves medical attention. High-grade fevers that range from about 103 F-104 F also deserve medical attention, no matter the age of the child. You should also seek medical attention if the fever of 102 F is not getting better after 48 hours, even after taking home remedial measures. Also, if the fever is accompanied by Abdominal pain, Difficulty breathing or swallowing, immediate medical attention needed.  

Can A Child With Fever Have Milk?

Yes, you can. As long as your child not vomits, you can feed the child milk. Forbidding giving milk to a child with a fever is nothing but a false myth.

#3. Cough

Like a common cold, children can easily catch cough during the winter season. A normal cough can last up to two weeks. If your child's cough is not severe or not accompanied by symptoms like labored breathing and chest infection, you can treat it effectively using following home remedies.

What Are The Home Remedies For Cough in Children?

• Rubbing Vapor rub containing menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor in chest and back significantly improved sleep in children with cough and chest infection.
• Extract the ginger juice and add crush tulsi leaves to it. Now put in little honey and give it to the child. This will provide instant relief from cough. Honey has antimicrobial property and hence is a common ingredient in many home remedies.
• Mix well a few drops of lemon with little powdered cinnamon and honey. This mixture is excellent to fight cough in children 
• Giving children 10 grams of honey before going bed brings down the severity of their cough symptoms

When Should I Take My Child To The Doctor For A Cough?

Even after applying home remedies, if your child shows the difficulty in breathing, color change in lips or face, along with persistent cough, or if the cough is accompanied by high fever, you should seek medical attention to your child. 

#4. Ear Infections

Five out of six children are found to contract an ear infection before their 3rd birthday. Instances of ear infections of babies and young kids tend to peak during fall and winter. This is because during this period, the upper upper-respiratory infections such as cold and flu hike. The Eustachian tubes are shorter and more horizontal, and it hardly drains well. 

How Do You Know If Your Child Has An Ear Infection?

Earache is the primary symptom of earache in children. Small babies tugging or pulling or rubbing the ear and crying points to the possibility of ear infection. Trouble sleeping, fluid draining from ear, trouble hearing and earache with high fever are some of the symptoms of ear infection. 

What Are The Home Remedies For Earache In Children?

• Putting a hot compress against the child's ear helps to reduce pain.
• If your baby is older than six months, giving acetaminophen (Tylenol) just before bedtime may help relieve pain and offer uninterrupted sleep. The dosage should be as instructed by a pediatric.
• Elevate the child's head using the pillow. This will help to drain the sinus effectively and hence will bring down the earache.
• Homeopathic ear drops that comprise the extracts of ingredients such as garlic, mullein, lavender, calendula, etc. helps to relieve inflammation and ear pain in children to a greater extent.

#5. Stomach Bug

Ninety percent of kids are found to contract stomach flu at least once by age 4. It is characterized by diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting, probably accompanied by fever. While norovirus that causes stomach flu can strike year-round, they're more common during the winter. This is because norovirus survives for longer outside of the body during winter. Stomach bug lasts for 1 to 3 days making the days miserable for the child.