Evidence-Based Respiratory and Health Condition Management
At Primary Health Network, we are committed to providing you with the most accurate, up-to-date information to help you manage your health. We’ve partnered with the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to bring you comprehensive guidance on managing common illness symptoms. These resources are designed to help you understand when antibiotics are appropriate, how to manage symptoms effectively, and when to seek medical care. Whether you’re a parent caring for a child or an individual managing your own symptoms, our goal is to support you with evidence-based recommendations that prioritize your well-being.
Managing Cold and Congestion Symptoms: Guidance for Patients
If your child is feeling stuffy or congested, there are several safe treatment options:
- Hydration: Make sure your child stays well-hydrated, which can help soothe their airway.
- Honey: For children over one year, a half teaspoon to a teaspoon of honey every two hours can help soothe a sore throat. This can be given on its own or mixed with fluids like juice or milk.
- Cough Lozenges: For children over six years, cough lozenges or hard candy may ease throat irritation. These are not recommended for younger children due to the choking risk.
- Saline Drops/Spray: Nasal saline drops (followed by bulb suction for babies) can provide relief for congestion. Older children can use saline nasal sprays.
- Fever Relief: For children with fever, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®). Always follow the appropriate pediatric dosing instructions from your healthcare provider.
If you’re feeling congested or have other cold symptoms, here are some helpful treatments:
- Hydration: Stay hydrated by drinking warm liquids like tea or soup. These can help loosen mucus and soothe your airway.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C supplements are generally safe and may slightly reduce the duration of symptoms, but they do not prevent colds or flu. A daily intake of 200 mg may help you feel better a little faster.
- Zinc: Zinc may decrease the severity and duration of flu-like symptoms by about 2 days, but it is not proven to prevent colds or flu. It can cause side effects like a bad taste in the mouth or nausea, and intranasal zinc (like Zicam®) can cause permanent loss of smell. If you choose to take zinc, lozenges or syrups may be better tolerated than tablets.
- Cold Medicines: Over-the-counter cold medicines that include a combination of antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine) and decongestants (e.g., pseudoephedrine, oxymetazoline) may help relieve symptoms. Always read the labels carefully, especially if the product contains acetaminophen or NSAIDs (Motrin®), to avoid exceeding the recommended daily dosage.
- Nasal Sprays: To reduce congestion, you can use:
- Saline nasal spray (e.g., Ayr Saline®)
- Cromolyn sodium (Nasalcrom®) or ipratropium bromide (Atrovent®). Be aware that ipratropium may cause dryness and mild nosebleeds.
- Decongestants (e.g., phenylephrine [Sudafed PE®], oxymetazoline [Afrin®]). These should not be used for more than 5 days to avoid worsening congestion.
- Topical steroids (e.g., Flonase®) are not effective for treating RSV-related symptoms.
How long will my cold symptoms last?
Cold symptoms typically peak around day 3 and improve over the next 10 days. However, a cough may persist for a few weeks. If you have underlying lung conditions (such as asthma, COPD, or are a smoker), symptoms may last longer.
When should I seek medical care?
Contact your healthcare provider or visit an emergency department if you experience:
- A high fever (above 102°F)
- Confusion, blurry vision, or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- A severe headache that does not improve with pain medication
- Facial pain or new fevers (101-102°F) after an initial fever resolves
- Symptoms that do not improve after 10 days
Flu Vaccination and Managing Flu Symptoms: Guidance for Patients
Should my child get the flu vaccine?
The flu vaccine is recommended for children over the age of 6 months. If it’s your child’s first time receiving the flu vaccine and they are between the ages of 6 months and 8 years, they will need 2 doses. After that, and for children aged 9 years and older, annual flu vaccinations are recommended.
My child is still sick after four days with the flu. What should we do?
Flu symptoms can last a week or more. To help your child feel more comfortable:
- Hydrate: Make sure your child stays hydrated, as it helps soothe the airway.
- Honey: For children over one year of age, you can give half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of honey every two hours to help soothe a sore throat.
- Cough Lozenges: For children over six years, cough lozenges or hard candy may ease throat irritation. These are not recommended for younger children due to the choking risk.
- Saline Drops/Spray: For congestion, nasal saline drops (followed by bulb suction for babies) can provide relief. Older children can use saline nasal sprays.
- Fever Relief: For children with fever, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®). Always follow the appropriate pediatric dosing instructions from your healthcare provider.
Should adults get the flu vaccine?
Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months. Adults aged 65 years and older should receive a high-dose or adjuvanted flu vaccine. Talk to your healthcare provider if you’re interested in getting the flu vaccine.
Can the flu vaccine cause the flu?
The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu. Some people may experience mild, short-lasting side effects, including:
- Mild headaches
- Slight fever
- Muscle aches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Redness or swelling at the injection site
Can Vitamin C help with flu recovery?
Vitamin C supplements are generally safe and may slightly reduce the duration of flu symptoms. In one study, people taking 200 mg of Vitamin C daily had about two fewer days of symptoms and felt a little better. However, Vitamin C does not prevent colds or the flu.
Can Zinc help with flu recovery?
Zinc may reduce the severity and duration of flu symptoms by about 2 days in adults. However, it can cause side effects like a bad taste in the mouth or nausea, and we generally do not recommend it. If you choose to take zinc, lozenges or syrup forms may be better tolerated than tablets. Avoid intranasal zinc (e.g., Zicam®), as it has been linked to a permanent loss of smell. You may want to consider taking Vitamin C instead to help reduce flu symptoms.
I still have a cough from the flu. What should I do?
- Hydration: Drink warm liquids like tea or soup to help loosen mucus and soothe your airway.
- Cold Medicines: Over-the-counter medications combining antihistamines and decongestants may work best. Examples include:
- Antihistamines: cetirizine (Zyrtec®), loratadine (Claritin®), fexofenadine (Allegra®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
- Decongestants: pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®), oxymetazoline (Afrin®) Be sure to carefully read labels to avoid exceeding the daily recommended dosage if you’re taking other medications containing acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or NSAIDs (Motrin®).
How long will my flu symptoms last?
Flu symptoms are usually worst on the third day and can last for about a week. A cough may persist for a few weeks.
When should I call for an in-person visit?
Seek medical care if you develop:
- New fevers after an initial fever resolves
- Facial pain or pain in the forehead
- A persistent high fever (above 102°F)
- Headaches that don’t improve with pain medication
- Rash or other new symptoms
- If symptoms do not improve after 10 days
When should I go to the emergency room?
Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience:
- High fevers (above 102°F)
- Confusion or severe fatigue
- Blurry vision, difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Severe headache that does not respond to pain medication
RSV Vaccination and Managing RSV Symptoms: Guidance for Patients
Should my child receive an RSV vaccine?
Currently, RSV vaccines are not approved for children. However, there is an injection available for infants that can protect them against RSV infection. The injection, called Beyfortus®, is given to infants 8 months and younger if the mother did not receive the RSV vaccine during pregnancy. Additionally, this injection may be given to infants 8-19 months at increased risk for severe RSV during their second RSV season. If you think your baby qualifies, please talk to your healthcare provider for more information.
My child is still feeling congested from the RSV infection. What should we do?
RSV can cause congestion and discomfort, and we recommend the following alternatives to over-the-counter cold medicines:
- Hydration: Make sure your child stays hydrated to help soothe their airway.
- Honey: For children over one year, try giving half a teaspoon to a teaspoon of honey every two hours to soothe a sore throat. This can be given on its own or mixed with fluids like juice or milk.
- Cough Lozenges: For children over six years, you can offer cough lozenges or hard candy to ease throat irritation. We do not recommend this for younger children due to the choking risk.
- Saline Drops/Spray: For congestion relief, use saline nasal drops for babies (followed by bulb suction), and saline nasal sprays for older children.
- Fever Relief: For children with a fever, consider acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®). Always follow appropriate pediatric dosing as recommended by your healthcare provider.
Should adults get an RSV vaccine?
The CDC recommends RSV vaccination for:
- Adults aged 75 years and older
- Adults aged 60-74 years with underlying medical conditions
- Pregnant women in their third trimester (32 to 36 weeks) of pregnancy
- If you are 60 years or older, or pregnant, and interested in receiving the RSV vaccine, please talk to your healthcare provider
Can Vitamin C help with RSV recovery?
Vitamin C supplements are generally safe for adults and may provide some benefit. One study showed that people who took 200 mg of Vitamin C daily experienced two fewer days of symptoms and felt slightly better. However, Vitamin C does not prevent RSV or colds.
Can Zinc help with RSV recovery?
Zinc has not been shown to prevent RSV, but it may reduce the severity and duration of RSV-like symptoms by about 2 days. However, we generally recommend against zinc due to side effects like a bad taste in the mouth and nausea. If you choose to take zinc, the syrup or lozenge forms may be tolerated better than tablets. Avoid intranasal zinc (such as Zicam®) due to the risk of irreversible loss of smell. Instead, consider Vitamin C supplements to help reduce the severity of RSV symptoms.
I’m still feeling congested from RSV. What should I do?
- Hydration: Make sure to stay hydrated, as drinking warm liquids like tea or soup can loosen mucus and ease your airway.
- Cold Medicines: Over-the-counter medications that combine antihistamines and decongestants may help alleviate congestion. Examples include:
- Antihistamines: cetirizine (Zyrtec®), loratadine (Claritin®), fexofenadine (Allegra®), diphenhydramine (Benadryl®)
- Decongestants: pseudoephedrine (Sudafed®), oxymetazoline (Afrin®) Be sure to read the label carefully to avoid exceeding the recommended daily dose of acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or NSAIDs (Motrin®).
Is there a nasal spray that can help with RSV-related congestion?
Several nasal sprays may help reduce congestion:
- Nasal Saline (e.g., Ayr Saline®)
- Cromolyn Sodium (e.g., Nasalcrom®)
- Ipratropium Bromide (e.g., Atrovent®) — Note that this can cause nasal dryness and mild nose bleeds.
- Decongestants (e.g., phenylephrine [Sudafed PE®], oxymetazoline [Afrin®]) — Do not use decongestants for more than 5 days, as prolonged use may worsen symptoms.
- Topical Steroids (e.g., Flonase®) have not been shown to be effective for treating RSV.
How long can I expect my RSV symptoms to last?
In general, RSV symptoms peak around day 3 and gradually improve over the next 10 days. A cough may persist for a few weeks. People with underlying lung diseases (e.g., asthma, COPD, smokers) may experience longer-lasting symptoms.
When should I call for an in-person visit?
Seek medical care if:
- You develop high fevers (above 102°F), confusion, blurry vision, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or a severe headache that doesn’t improve with pain medication.
- If you experience pain in your face or forehead, or if your symptoms don’t improve after 10 days, you may need an in-person visit to assess if antibiotics are necessary.
When should I go to the emergency room?
Go to the emergency room immediately if you experience:
- High fevers (above 102°F)
- Confusion or severe fatigue
- Blurry vision or difficulty breathing/swallowing
- Severe headache not responding to pain medication
Acute Otitis Media (Ear Infection) in Children – FAQ
Ear infections are a common childhood illness that can cause pain and discomfort. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about Acute Otitis Media (AOM) to help guide parents through symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
- Viral ear infections usually improve within 2–3 days, though some symptoms may persist for up to a week.
- Bacterial ear infections may take longer but typically improve within 48–72 hours of starting antibiotics.
- Give acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®) as directed by your child’s healthcare provider.
- Apply a warm cloth to the affected ear for comfort.
- Keep your child’s head elevated to help relieve ear pressure.
- Engage them with distractions such as a favorite toy or movie.
- If pain persists or worsens, schedule a follow-up with a healthcare provider.
- Temporary hearing loss can occur due to fluid buildup or inflammation in the middle ear. This usually resolves once the infection clears.
- Recurrent infections may impact hearing, so let your child’s provider know if you have concerns.
Schedule an in-person visit if:
- Symptoms do not improve within 48–72 hours of starting antibiotics.
- Your child appears confused, lethargic, or excessively tired.
- Your child looks seriously ill.
- If your child is confused or lethargic, seek immediate care at the emergency department. Otherwise, a follow-up with their regular healthcare provider is appropriate.
While some children are more prone to ear infections, you can take steps to reduce the risk:
- Avoid secondhand smoke, which increases the risk of infections.
- Breastfeeding for the first six months may offer protection.
- Encourage frequent hand washing to limit germ exposure.
- Keep your child up-to-date on vaccinations, including the flu shot, to prevent infections that can lead to ear issues.
If your child’s symptoms are not improving or seem to worsen, or if you need additional guidance, please contact your child’s preferred healthcare provider for further evaluation.
We hope this information helps you manage your symptoms and make informed decisions about your health. Remember, the guidelines provided here are designed to support you in easing discomfort and understanding when to seek medical attention. By working together with healthcare professionals and following the advice provided, you can ensure the best possible care for yourself and your family.
Disclaimer: This information is for general guidance and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult your preferred healthcare provider for advice specific to your situation. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.