At this time of year, many little noses run and sniffle. It can be difficult to discern whether your toddler’s runny nose is the result of a cold or allergies because the two conditions have very similar symptoms. For the past couple of days, Dylan has had a very runny nose and I have been wondering what is causing it.
Since it has only been a few days, it is too soon to tell whether the duration of Dylan’s runny nose is being caused by allergies or a cold. A cold lasts for a few days to a week, but allergies last longer than that. Also his nose has been running mostly thin and clear, which would indicate an allergy, but at times the discharge is thicker which would be a sign of a cold. Confusing, isn’t it.
Both allergies and colds can involve sneezing, which Dylan has been doing more than usual the past few days. He does not seem to have a fever, but a low grade fever can be hard to detect. Fevers can be associated with a cold, but not everyone who gets a cold gets a fever. Children who are experiencing seasonal allergies would not have a fever in addition to their allergy symptoms. Itchy, watery eyes are another sign of seasonal allergies. I have seen Dylan rub his eyes a few times, but I do not remember at what time of day he was doing that because he does tend to rub his eyes a lot when he gets tired.
So, it seems as if there is not much that I can do right now except to wait and see whether his little nose stops running within the next few days. While I wait it out, I’ll do what moms do best – apply a heavy dose of extra hugs and kisses along with a nutritional boost from things like chicken soup, fresh fruit, and orange juice. Fortunately, whatever it is does not seem to be bothering him too much during the day although it does wake him up a few times each night.
Don’t forget, I am not a doctor nor do I pretend to be one. If your child is experiencing symptoms that are troubling to you, consult your pediatrician.
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