Is it fall allergies or something more?

This time of year, a coughing, sniffling, sneezing child could mean anything from the start of the flu, a common cold, or fall allergies. And so the question arises: do you treat it like a cold with over-the-counter options and hope for the best? Visit a doctor in case it's the flu? Or start looking for a specialist?

But first things first. What are you dealing with?

Is it a cold?

This can be hard for parents to decipher. The average child can bring home as many as 10 viral colds per year. These infections typically last for a week or two and then go away. Your best option is to treat symptoms with over-the-counter remedies and let it run its course.

Is it the flu?

The flu may start with cold-like symptoms, but watch for a fever, headache, and other body aches. The flu is also likely to bring a cough and chest discomfort which may lead to bronchitis or even pneumonia. Your pediatrician may be able to offer medication to shorten the duration of flu symptoms, so it’s worth a visit especially if your child has a fever.

Is it airborne allergies?

The most common fall allergies come from high levels of ragweed pollen, mold spores, and various other flora throughout Alabama. Your pediatrician may prescribe medications such as oral antihistamines, nasal steroids, non-steroidal nasal sprays, eye drops and sublingual therapy for pollen allergies. But if medications and efforts to avoid irritants don’t control your child's symptoms, you should consider asking your pediatrician to recommend an allergist.

A quick checklist

Still not sure what you’re dealing with? Here’s a quick checklist that may help. Of course, it’s never a mistake to bring your child in for a doctor visit if you feel he or she has extreme symptoms or if they’ve been sick longer than you’d expect.

Symptoms	Cold	Flu	Allergies
Fever		✔
Headache		✔
General aches and pains		✔
Fatigue and weakness		✔
Stuffy nose	✔		✔
Sneezing	✔		✔
Sore throat	✔
Cough	✔	✔
Chest discomfort	✔	✔
Possible complications	sinus infection, middle ear infection, asthma	bronchitis, pneumonia, possibly life-threatening	sinus infection, middle ear infection, asthma
Prevention	Hand washing, avoid contamination	Flu vaccine, hand washing, avoid contamination	Avoid allergens
Treatment	Rest, hydration, acetaminophen or ibuprofen	Rest, hydration, acetaminophen or ibuprofen Antiviral medicines	Antihistamines, nasal steroids, decongestants

Visit FirstKids

If you have a sick kid on your hands – or more than one – it’s absolutely worthwhile to visit one of the medical professionals at FirstKids Urgent Care. We can help diagnose the situation and begin appropriate treatment quickly. Whether it’s a cold or seasonal allergies, our compassionate FirstKids care team can help get your child back to their healthy self as quickly as possible.  

FirstKids can also provide back-up care – or provide routine primary care – for wellness checkups and vaccines. We are a walk-in facility serving the Tuscaloosa areas, so there’s no appointment necessary. If it’s more convenient, you can schedule an appointment online here. FirstKids accepts all major insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and self-pay patients as well.