Infection in the Nose, Throat, and Airways (Upper Respiratory Infection) in Infants: What to Know

An upper respiratory infection (URI) affects the nose, throat, and upper airways that lead to the lungs. The most common type of URI is the common cold.

URIs usually get better on their own. Medicines can't cure URIs, but you can do things to help your baby feel better. URIs in babies may last longer than they do in adults.

What are the causes?

• Breathing in droplets from someone's cough or sneeze.
• Touching something with the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.

What increases the risk?

• They're around many people, such as at school or daycare.
• They're around tobacco smoke.
• They have:
  • A weak immune system, which is the body's defense system.
  • Certain allergies.

What are the signs or symptoms?

• Runny or stuffy (congested) nose. This may cause problems with sucking while feeding.
• Cough or sneezing.
• Ear pain. Pulling on the ear may be a sign of this.
• Fever.
• Being less active.
• Not wanting to eat or drink.
• Changes in sleep or being fussy.

How is this diagnosed?

• Your baby's symptoms and medical history.
• A physical exam.

Your baby's health care provider may also use a swab to take a mucus sample from your baby's nose (nasal swab). This sample can be tested to see what virus is causing the illness.

How is this treated?

URIs usually get better on their own within 7–10 days. Babies with URIs are not usually treated with medicine. Medicines or antibiotics can't cure URIs. You can take steps to relieve your baby's symptoms.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Give your baby medicines only as told.
• Do not give your baby cold medicines. These can have serious side effects for children younger than 6 years of age.
• Talk with your baby's provider:
  • Before you give your baby any new medicines.
  • Before you try any home remedies such as herbal treatments.
• Do not give your baby aspirin. It can make your baby very sick.

Relieving symptoms

• Use saline nose drops (nasal drops) to help relieve a stuffy nose. Put one drop in each nostril as needed.
  • Do not use nose drops that have medicines in them unless your baby's provider tells you to.
• Use a bulb syringe to suction mucus out of your baby's nose. Do this after putting in nose drops. Put a drop into one nostril, wait for 1 minute, and then suction the nose. Then do the same for the other nostril.
• If your baby is 1 year old or older, a teaspoon of honey before bed may help lessen coughing at night.
  • Do not give honey to babies younger than 1 year old. It can make them very sick.
• Use a cool-mist humidifier to add moisture to the air. This can help your baby breathe easier.

General instructions

• Give your baby more fluids as told.
• Clean your baby's nose gently with a moist, soft cloth. Use saline drops to wet the area first.
• Use a cream or balm to help heal dry skin around your baby's nose.
• Keep your baby home from daycare if they have a fever.
• Keep your baby away from secondhand smoke.
• Make sure your baby gets regular shots, including the flu shot if they're older than 6 months.

How to prevent the spread of infection to others

URIs spread easily. To help stop the spread:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If you can't use soap and water, use hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your baby's mouth, face, eyes, or nose.
• Have everyone at home wash their hands often.
• Clean all surfaces and doorknobs.

Contact your baby's health care provider if:

• Your baby's symptoms last longer than 10 days.
• Your baby's symptoms get worse.
• Your baby has new symptoms such as:
  • Fluid coming from one ear or eye, or from both ears or eyes.
  • Throwing up when coughing.

• Your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.
• Your baby is 3 months old or older and has a temperature of 102.2°F (39°C) or higher.
• Your baby has a fever, and they look or act sick in a way that worries you.
• Your baby is sleeping a lot more than usual.

If you can't reach the provider, go to an urgent care or emergency room.

Get help right away if:

• Your baby is breathing very fast.
• Your baby makes grunting sounds while breathing.
• The spaces between and under your baby's ribs get sucked in while your baby inhales. This may be a sign that your baby is having trouble breathing.
• Your baby makes high-pitched whistling sounds when breathing. This is called wheezing.
• Your baby's skin or nails look gray or blue.
• Your baby has signs of dehydration, which is when there's not enough water in their body. Signs include:
  • Being very sleepy.
  • Dry mouth.
  • Little or no pee.
  • Wrinkled skin.
  • No tears.
  • A sunken soft spot on the top of the head.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away. Call 911 right away.