A cough during pregnancy is often a symptom of a cold or upper respiratory infection. While most coughs are not known to harm the baby, treating coughs can be challenging since only a small number of cold and cough medications are considered safe to use during pregnancy.

Good nutrition does not just affect the exterior of your body. A steady supply of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants help keep your immune system strong and healthy as well. Several foods can help ease a sore throat and cold as well as fight off the infection causing your symptoms.

An expectorant is a type of medication that is used to loosen congestion in your chest and throat to allow you to cough up mucus easier. The most commonly used ingredient is guafenesin. Taking an expectorant as directed can help clean the lungs of mucus.

The signs and symptoms of a cold -- coughing, sneezing, stuffy nose, sore throat, headache, watery eyes and fever -- can make you miserable. The common cold, which is an upper respiratory tract infection, can be caused by one of many types of rhinoviruses.

If you have a cold, chances are you’d like to do whatever possible to make yourself feel better. While cold medications can provide quick relief for many common cold symptoms, certain vitamins, particularly vitamin C, might help shorten the duration of the cold a bit.

A cough is your 2-month-old baby’s natural way of clearing away phlegm, mucus and other fluids from her throat, lungs and nasal passages. However, as Evan Forster states in "American Baby"

When your toddler has a cold, nothing matters except making him feel better. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic warn against using cold medications in children under 2 years old, and advise using caution when giving them to children over 2.

Coughs that are dry, tickly and non-productive — meaning they don’t produce phlegm — are typically not associated with serious illnesses. Most often they are caused by environmental factors such as smog or dust, or are the after-effects of an allergic reaction or cold.

Dry air can cause respiratory problems and increased allergy symptoms for many people, especially in the winter. Dry air in your home can draw moisture out of porous materials like wood, including furniture, woodwork, wood floors, pianos and other musical instruments.

Some home remedies for colds, particularly those that go back several generations, contain whiskey as a primary ingredient. The use of whiskey for relief of the common cold is popular, as it is believed to soothe a sore throat, improve cough symptoms, clear stuffy noses and promote sleep.

Stomach flu, or gastroenteritis, occurs when your infant’s digestive tract becomes inflamed. This condition can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms, including diarrhea, vomiting, fever and chills. If the stomach flu is accompanied by a cough, you need to take further steps to care for your infant.

The flu virus spreads through exposure to the respiratory secretions of a sick person. Unfortunately, a sick person need not be present for the infection to occur. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu virus can survive on surfaces in your home or office for up to eight hours.