Would you call the doc about this?

Slobina

So, DD seems fine to me, but she has had a runny nose and a cough for about the last week or so.  She's sleeping fine, eating fine, and is generally in a good mood. I'm just concerned with all the mucus in her nose and the cough, that she might get some kind of bacterial infection.  But maybe this is just daycare funk and I'm worrying too much.  Any thoughts?  Would you call your doc or let it go?

TIA,

Amy

ali-1411

Is the snot clear?

I'd let it go.  It might turn into an infection but there's nothing you can do until it does.  

Slobina

Yep, snot is clear.  Very true that I can't do anything about it until it turns into an infection.  Thanks for the advice.

august8080

ali-1411:

Is the snot clear?

I'd let it go.  It might turn into an infection but there's nothing you can do until it does.  

Yeah, if it's clear and she doesn't have other concerning symptoms, I wouldn't call. 

Nessia

ali-1411:

Is the snot clear?

I'd let it go.  It might turn into an infection but there's nothing you can do until it does.  

Pretty much especially if your pedi is like mine and will not give anti-biotics if he cannot determine for a fact it's an infection. He doesn't even give up cough syrup. I wish my FIL would understand this concept. He wants me to take the kids in at the first sign of a cough or runny nose. Both my kids had cough/congestion for at least a week. DS got better and DD woke up with a fever on Saturday and had strep. There really is nothing you can do until another symptom appears. I would watch for her ears bothering her or not being able to sleep well.

amyliisa

Ditto others, I'd let it go until either the snot turns greenish/yellow or the cough lasts longer than 7-10 days. 

However, not to alarm you but just wanted to let you know what we just went through (it's not terrible, but it's good to know to watch for).  DS has had stuffiness and runny nose/sneezing for several weeks, that I've chalked up to seasonal allergies, and been treating with Zyrtec (on dr's advice) which helps. 

Last week, Thurs night he woke up in the middle of the night, wide awake and would not go back to sleep.  He kept "fake coughing" and saying he was sick.  I chalked it up to faking.  Friday night, up again in the middle of the night, this time coughing for real, and CRYING while coughing because it hurt his throat so bad. His voice was becoming hoarse, too.  No fever, gave him OJ to help soothe his throat and he ended up going back to sleep.  Saturday, loose congested coughing in the morning, getting progressively worse.  By afternoon, had turned into a barking cough and he started running a fever.  Dr. Google all but confirmed he had Croup - which starts exactly this way (stuffiness/cough/cold symptoms for about a day or two before barking cough and fever set in).  (Actually, askdrsears dot com was the most informative source I read on the topic)

Fortunately DS had a mild case and his breathing was never really affected.  Just the pathetic cough and 102+ fever the rest of the weekend.  We did use the cool mist humidifier in his room, but didn't take him to dr until Monday, but were watching for signs of inhibited breathing.  If we had seen any, we would have taken him to urgent care, where they can administer a steroid and/or breathing treatment to help open the inflamed airway.  On Monday, Dr confirmed it was mild croup, plus probably any number of the "other 28 or so viruses going around", as she put it.  Fever lasted until early Tuesday morning, so almost 3 days.

Obviously, I'm not saying this will happen to your DD!  Just that it could and it's going around (there were 3 cases of croup in DS's preschool last week, he was #4)...