Cold and flu are the common names for overlapping syndromes of respiratory infection caused by a number of viruses. According to FamilyDoctor, the two are mainly differentiated by onset and severity: Flu symptoms usually onset abruptly and are more severe. Cold symptoms onset over several days and are typically milder. Cold and flu symptoms may appear differently in newborns than in older infants and children.
Systemic Symptoms
Systemic symptoms of colds and the flu, according to FamilyDoctor, include fever, fatigue, muscle aches and headache. Rectal temperature between 100.4 and 102 degrees F is characteristic of a cold. Higher temperatures usually indicate flu. A newborn cannot tell you that he is experiencing fatigue, muscle aches or a headache. Therefore, a caregiver must be attuned to other signs, such as lethargy, irritability and fussiness. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a newborn who does not want to be held or who is difficult to rouse needs to be seen by a doctor.
Respiratory Symptoms
According to FamilyDoctor, respiratory symptoms of colds and the flu include runny nose, congestion, sneezing and cough. Runny nose in a newborn may present with yellow, green or clear discharge. Congestion may be noted from a change in the sound of the newborn's cries or from coughing or sneezing. Cough may be "productive" (sputum-producing) or non-productive. A non-productive cough is usually associated with the flu. Newborns should be monitored carefully for signs of breathing problems, such as fast breathing, labored breathing or bluish coloring at the mouth or nail beds. Newborns with breathing problems require immediate medical attention.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Gastrointestinal symptoms of colds and the flu include refusal to eat, vomiting and diarrhea. Unfortunately, many newborns have not yet established consistent patterns in eating and bowel habits, so it may be difficult to spot changes. The main complication of gastrointestinal symptoms is dehydration, which develops quickly in young children, according to Healthy Children. Signs of dehydration in a newborn include dark urine, fewer than six wet diapers per day, few tears when crying, sunken soft spot (fontanelle), dry mouth and sunken eyes. Dehydrated newborns may need to be hospitalized until symptoms resolve.
