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Sunday, December 10, 2006
Greenish mucus
Is it true that a greenish mucus means your child has something worse than a cold?
Not usually. While clear mucus is most common, green or yellow can also just be symptoms of a cold. However, discolored mucus plus a persistent high fever, decreased appetite, cough, or severe nasal congestion may be signs of a bacterial infection, which -- unlike a cold -- could require antibiotics. If you notice your child often has green or yellow mucus, there may be an underlying problem (enlarged adenoids, for instance) that's causing recurring bacterial infections. In that case, let your pediatrician be your sleuth.
(Answer by Rosemary Black, Marguerite Lamb, and Laura Flynn McCarthy from Parenting.com)
Not usually. While clear mucus is most common, green or yellow can also just be symptoms of a cold. However, discolored mucus plus a persistent high fever, decreased appetite, cough, or severe nasal congestion may be signs of a bacterial infection, which -- unlike a cold -- could require antibiotics. If you notice your child often has green or yellow mucus, there may be an underlying problem (enlarged adenoids, for instance) that's causing recurring bacterial infections. In that case, let your pediatrician be your sleuth.
(Answer by Rosemary Black, Marguerite Lamb, and Laura Flynn McCarthy from Parenting.com)
Labels: child, cold, congestion, cough, fever, infection, mucus
