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Kids
What Are Colds?
en español: ¿Qué son los resfriados?
Medically reviewed by: Melanie L. Pitone, MD
Learn About Infectious Disease Care at Nemours Children's Health
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A cold is an infection that affects your nose, throat, and sinuses. Tiny germs called cold viruses get inside
your body and make you sick. The rhinovirus (say: rye-no-VYE-rus) is the most common cold virus, but
more than 200 viruses can cause colds.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a vaccine (or shot) to prevent the common cold. But your body already has the
best cold cure — your immune system. This is what fights illness in your body. White blood cells are the
immune system's main warriors. They're your own private army working to help you feel better.
How Do Kids Catch Colds?
Mucus (say: MYOO-kus) is wet, slimy stuff inside the nose, mouth, and throat. When someone sneezes
or coughs, tiny mucus drops that you can’t see float in the air. Breathing in these droplets can spread a
cold from one person to another.
You also can catch a cold if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching something with cold
viruses on it. Computers, cellphones, door handles, light switches, and your school desk are all hot spots
for viruses. Be sure to wash your hands well and often, as this helps wash off viruses you pick up
throughout the day.
What Are the Symptoms of a Cold?
After you have contact with a cold virus, it takes 2 to 3 days for cold symptoms to begin. You may have
some of these symptoms with a cold:
sore throat, coughing, or a “tickle” in the throat
sneezing or congestion (stuffy nose)
feeling very tired
mild fever (100°–101°F/37.2°–37.8°C)
body aches
low appetite (not feeling hungry)
How Can I Feel Better?
Here are some feel-better tips if you get a cold:
Bring on the heat. Hot drinks and soup soothe coughs and sore throats while also clearing mucus.
Get steamed up. A steamy shower helps stuffy or irritated noses. You can also use a humidifier (a small,
quiet machine that sprays a cool mist into the air) to relieve your scratchy throat and stuffy nose.
Humidifiers make room air moist, which loosens mucus.
Drink plenty of liquids. Drinking enough will help you feel better. (Popsicles and ice pops count too —
just make sure they’re not loaded with sugar.)
Blow your nose regularly. Blowing your nose is the best way to get rid of mucus.
Rest. Take a nap or go to bed a little earlier for a few nights.
How Can I Avoid Getting a Cold?
The best thing you can do to prevent getting a cold is to wash your hands often with warm water and
soap, especially before and after eating. (You can use hand sanitizer when you don’t have water or soap,
but hand sanitizer won’t remove things like dirt or grease.)
You can also keep your body in good shape to help prevent colds by being active, avoiding stress, eating
a balanced diet, and getting enough rest. Doing these things will help your body fight cold viruses better,
meaning you might not always get sick when you come in contact with them. Take that, cold viruses!
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Kids
Why Do I Need to Wash My Hands?
en español: ¿Por qué tengo que lavarme las manos?
Medically reviewed by: Yamini Durani, MD
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"Did you wash your hands?" How many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot. But why are
adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather?
Why Is Hand Washing So Important?
Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you
touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went
outside to dig around the dirt.
Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It's easy for a germ on your hand to end up
in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.
You can't wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands so those germs don't get a
chance to make you or someone else sick.
When Should I Wash My Hands?
So when are the best times to wash your hands?
when your hands are dirty
before eating or touching food (like if you're helping cook or bake, for example)
after using the bathroom
after blowing your nose or coughing
after touching pets or other animals
after playing outside
before and after visiting a sick relative or friend
What's the Best Way to Wash My Hands?
Now you have the when and the why of hand washing. But did you know that a lot of people don't know
how to get their paws perfectly clean?
The next time you're told to step up to the sink and scrub up, remember these handy hints:
Use warm or cold (not hot) water when you wash your hands.
Use whatever soap you like. Some soaps come in cool shapes and colors or smell nice, but whatever
kind gets you scrubbing is the kind you should use. Antibacterial soaps are OK to use, but regular soap
works fine.
Work up some lather on both sides of your hands (front and back!), your wrists, and between your
fingers. Don't forget to wash around your nails. This is one place germs like to hide. Wash for about 10
to 15 seconds — about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday." (Sing it quickly two times or just once
if you go nice and slow.)
Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.
