Keep the child comfortable by treating any fever with Tylenol, as directed by your pediatrician. Antibiotics are not usually given because a virus that would not respond to antibiotics causes the infection. Rarely, a child will have so much trouble with coughing and difficulty breathing that hospitalization would be required. If the breathing doesn t get better in 10 to 15 minutes, arrange to take the child to the hospital. Child s breathing gets noisier or very fast even when he s resting.
Child becomes very fussy or cranky, confused, always tired or refuses fluids.
Child s cough does not improve in one week. Daisy Vinzon, M.D. is a board-certified pediatrician and an assistant professor at the UCLA Children s Hospital. Her office is at the UCLA Medical Group-Manhattan Beach at 2501 North Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 100.