Making Some Sense Out of Common Cold

Do you starve a fever and feed a cold?

This old saying has produced a certain amount of good sense and a fair amount of nonsense, according to Dr. John G. Hipps of Emporium, Pa., a general practitioner and counselor for more than 30 years.

Most colds are caused by viruses and are associated with a fever. It is pretty hard to have one without the other. Not knowing whether there is a cold without a fever or vice versa can make it really tricky when deciding whether to eat or not.

The common-sense thing to do with a virus head cold depends on the symptoms and how severe they are. If there is nasal stuffiness, a runny nose and sneezing, an antihistamine should relieve the discomfort some.

If there is fever and aching, Tylenol is helpful. When using Tylenol or its equivalent, be aware of the proper dosage: usually one grain for each year of age up to 10 years. After that, the usual adult requirement is two extra-strength tablets.

Be careful not to use aspirin with children because of the danger of Reye’s syndrome, an often fatal disease associated with this otherwise harmless drug.

When experiencing loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, rest the stomach and intestinal tract by eating light foods. If diarrhea is bad, try an over-the-counter medication such as Kaopectate. If any of the symptoms are severe, seek prompt medical attention. Don’t ignore symptoms.

Don’t be overly concerned about dehydration in the presence of a fever for a period of 24 to 72 hours. Be concerned with fluid loss only if vomiting and diarrhea persist.