Cold or allergies? Doctor or OTC drugs?

Question

my daughter (2) has runny nose, pink puffy eyes, little cough is it a cold or just allergies? and should i take her to the doctor, or just treat it at home with over the counter medications? are there any for her age?

Answer 1

With her being so little still they recommend that you get doctors advise first before doing any medication. All cold and medicine like that is recommended for children 4 and older. So to be on the safe side I would give your doctor a call and see what they say. Good luck :)

Answer 2

It's really hard to tell the difference between cold or allergies at the onset of symptoms. Have said that, we are now in ragweed season and that could be the cause.  If there is no fever, you can try over the counter Benadryl . If the symptoms don't seem to improve or new ones start, you'll know it's time to see the doctor.

Good luck! Hope I helped!

Answer 3

Always talk to your doctor first and I would only medicate if it is bothering her or causing other problems. I started to type up my story and then realized every child and situation are very different. Yes, we found an OTC solution that worked for us under the supervision of our pediatrician. I would take her in and ask. The age/weight of the child make a HUGE difference. The one lesson I learned was to ask the allergist what they would do if an allergy is found. Maybe it is as simple as an OTC med. I also discovered it was really helpful to have everything really documented. How long and what the symptoms are. Good luck! I never knew if I was making the right decision.