We all know the symptoms of the common cold - sneezing, watery eyes, a cough, and a stuffy, runny nose. A child with a cold will often be cranky and have a mild fever and a headache.

Since there are hundreds of viruses that cause colds, there is still no vaccine for the common cold. Symptoms can be relieved with:

• a cool-mist vaporizer
• acetaminophen to bring down a fever
• decongestants
• lots of fluids

A cold usually lasts about a week. Any fever should appear at the beginning of the cold and then so away. Contact your pediatrician if:

• a fever continues or goes up during the week,
• symptoms seem to get worse after a week,
• your child has problems breathing or ear pain.