<s>[INST] My toddler is going to nursery and often picks up cold and flu bugs. She is again seeming to come down with a cold but I want to nip it before it becomes a full blown cold. Is there some medicine I could give my toddler to avoid setting of a full blown cold and cough. The throat bit I was able to eliminate with a combination of natural remedy - ginger juice honey and lemon and prospan syrup. Is there anything I could do for the cold. [/INST] Hi...Thank you for consulting in Health Care magic.Cough and cold are viral 95% of the times in children. For cold you can use anti-allergics like cetirizine and for nose block, saline nasal decongestants will do. Paracetamol can be given in the dose of 15mg/kg/dose every 4-6th hourly, that too only if fever is more than 100F. I suggest not using combination medicines for fever, especially with Paracetamol.For cold you can use Cetrizine at 0.25mg/kg/dose every 12 hourly for 3 days.For nasal block, plain saline nasal drops will do, every 4-6th hourly to relive nasal congestion.Hope my answer was helpful for you.  I am happy to help any time. Further clarifications and consultations on Health care magic are welcome. If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer. Wish your kid good health.Dr. Sumanth MBBS., DCH., DNB (Paed)., </s>