Breathing, feeding and drinking normally.
Offer fluids, use saline nose drops if advised and allow rest. Most younger children's colds improve within two weeks.
Read NHS children's guidanceHomeTreatmentsCoughs & colds in children
Children's coughs & colds · GP care
Support recovery. Watch the breathing.
Children commonly get several colds a year, and most improve with fluids, rest and time. The important distinction is whether a child is feeding, drinking and breathing normally or showing signs that need clinical assessment.
Children under 6 should not have over-the-counter cough and cold remedies unless advised by a GP or pharmacist. Antibiotics do not treat ordinary viral colds.
Choose a suitable route
Choose the right starting point.
Normal breathing and drinking support home care; wheeze, persistent fever or a prolonged cough need review.
Persistent, wheezy or repeatedly troublesome.
Arrange review for a cough lasting over three weeks, fever and significant illness, night or exercise cough, wheeze, ear pain or symptoms not improving.
Explore in-person GP careBreathing or hydration warning signs.
Use 999 for breathing difficulty or altered responsiveness. Use 111 for dehydration, poor feeding, rapid worsening or a young baby you are worried about.
Contact NHS 111A barking cough with a harsh noise when breathing in may be croup. Severe symptoms or breathing difficulty need emergency care.
Notice the pattern
What changes the next step.
The sound of a cough is less important than the child's work of breathing and overall condition.
Simple cold
Runny or blocked nose, sneezing, mild sore throat and cough are common and usually improve gradually.
Wheeze or night cough
Wheeze, a cough worse at night or symptoms triggered by running may need assessment for asthma or another cause.
Barking cough
A seal-like bark and harsh inspiratory sound can indicate croup and require age- and severity-based advice.
Chest illness signs
High temperature, rapid breathing, marked tiredness, chest pain or poor fluid intake need closer assessment.
A cough helps clear mucus. Suppressing it is not always helpful, and many cough medicines are not suitable for young children.
A focused GP assessment
Listen to the chest and the story.
A clinician can assess duration, breathing, fever and hydration and decide whether the child needs an in-person chest, throat or ear examination.
Explore in-person GP care01
Review the timeline.
Discuss onset, fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough sound, wheeze, night symptoms and exposure to infections.
02
Assess breathing and hydration.
Consider respiratory rate, work of breathing, feeding, fluids, urine, sleep, activity and colour.
03
Choose the safest setting.
Remote review may be enough for advice, but wheeze, abnormal breathing, persistent fever or diagnostic uncertainty often needs examination.
A proportionate plan
Comfort, fluids and time—when the signs are reassuring.
Most viral coughs do not need antibiotics. Treatment should be based on examination and the likely cause.
01
Keep fluids going
Offer frequent drinks or feeds. Saline nose drops may help a blocked nose, especially before feeds and sleep.
02
Use medicines safely
Use age-appropriate paracetamol or ibuprofen for distress if suitable. Never give aspirin under 16, and check ibuprofen in asthma.
03
Reduce spread
Regular handwashing, tissues and keeping an unwell child home help limit infection. Avoid smoke exposure.
Honey may soothe a cough only for children over 1 year. Do not give honey to a baby under 12 months.
Prepare for a useful review
Record the breathing and the timeline.
Note the child's age, duration of cough, highest temperature, wheeze, barking sound, night or exercise triggers and whether breathing looks faster or harder.
Know fluid and feed intake, urine or wet nappies, medicines given and any asthma or premature-birth history. A short video of an intermittent cough or breathing sound may help, but do not delay urgent care to record it.
Explore GP appointments ↗Good to know
Questions about children's coughs and colds.
Practical answers to help you choose a sensible next step without trying to diagnose the concern yourself.
How long can a child's cold last?
Most colds in younger children improve within about two weeks. Arrange a GP review if a cough lasts more than three weeks or symptoms are not improving as expected.
Can children take cough and cold medicine?
Children under 6 should not have over-the-counter cough and cold remedies, including decongestants, unless advised by a GP or pharmacist.
Does a green runny nose mean antibiotics are needed?
Not by itself. Colour can change during a viral cold. Antibiotics are used only when a clinician assesses a bacterial infection that would benefit.
When should I call 999?
Call 999 for breathing difficulty, grunting, ribs sucking in, blue or grey colour, pauses in breathing, a child who is hard to wake or not responding normally.
Clinical information: NHS children's colds and coughsNHS fever in childrenNHS croup. This information is general and does not replace individual medical advice.