Is a runny nose in an infant without fever or other symptoms normal?
Applies to age: 0–12 months
In short
A blocked or runny nose is one of the main symptoms of a cold; improvement should start after about 1–2 weeks, and in young children symptoms may last longer. A child's difficulty breathing needs immediate medical help.
What is normal
All claims: international norm
- A blocked or runny nose is listed among the main symptoms of a cold.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
The main symptoms include:
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
a blocked or runny nose
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Cold symptoms come on gradually over 2–3 days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Cold symptoms come on gradually over 2 to 3 days.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Improvement in a cold should start after about 1–2 weeks.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
You should begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Cold symptoms may last longer in young children.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
Symptoms of a cold can last longer in young children.
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A high temperature may accompany a runny nose in a cold, but it is listed as an additional symptom, not a main one.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
You may also have:
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
a high temperature
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
When to worry
All claims: international norm
- It is worth seeing a doctor when cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your cold symptoms do not get better after 10 days
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
ER / 112 (Poland)
Some claims: international norm
Immediate medical help needed: international norm
- Difficulty breathing in a child (for example grunting, the belly sucking in under the ribs, or fast breathing) needs immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises, their tummy sucking under their ribs or they may be breathing quickly
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Blue or gray skin, tongue, or lips in a child need immediate medical help.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child's skin, tongue or lips are blue or grey – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, lips, gums and inside the eyelids
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Call 112 (the emergency number in Poland) or 999 (the ambulance number in Poland) if life or health is at risk.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Zadzwoń na 112 lub 999, jeśli zagrożone jest życie lub zdrowie.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- Call an emergency medical team (ZRM) among other things when someone has lost consciousness, has seizures, heart rhythm disturbances, extensive burns, persistent vomiting (especially with blood), significant shortness of breath, or acute abdominal pain.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Wezwij zespół ratownictwa medycznego, jeśli ktoś w Twoim otoczeniu np. stracił przytomność, ma drgawki, zaburzenia rytmu serca, rozległe oparzenia, uporczywe wymioty – zwłaszcza z domieszką krwi, odczuwa nasiloną duszność lub ostry ból brzucha.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
See a doctor
Some claims: international norm
Urgent medical assessment needed: international norm
- When a child has had a cold and their condition is getting worse, it needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child has had a cold and it's getting worse
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A child eating or drinking much less than usual needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- A dry diaper for 12 hours or more, or other signs of dehydration in a child, need an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more, or shows other signs of dehydration
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- When a parent is worried about their child, it needs an urgent medical assessment.
Source: NHS – show the original wording (EN)
Summarized and translated by the editors, not an official translation. Verbatim quote from the source, in its original wording:
you're worried about your child
NHS · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [1]
- Night and holiday care (NiŚOZ) is medical help outside the working hours of a primary care (POZ) clinic.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nocna i świąteczna opieka zdrowotna to pomoc lekarska po godzinach pracy przychodni POZ.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- NiŚOZ is open from Monday to Friday from 18:00 to 8:00 the next morning.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Poniedziałek – Piątek: 18:00 – 08:00 rano dnia następnego.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- NiŚOZ is open around the clock on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Soboty, Niedziele i Święta: całodobowo.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- NiŚOZ has no regional assignment; help is available at every facility in Poland.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Nie obowiązuje rejonizacja – pomoc otrzymasz w każdej placówce w Polsce.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
- When you do not know where to go, you can call the free helpline 800 190 590, open around the clock.
Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ – show the quote
Verbatim quote from the source:
Polish original
Bezpłatna infolinia 800 190 590 działa całą dobę.
NFZ i Akademia NFZ · open the source · accessed: 2026-10-14 · license [2]
international norm “International norm” next to a section heading means its claims come from a non-Polish source, because no Polish source in our registry covers this topic. When this applies to only some of the claims, the foreign ones carry the same label next to their source.
Sources
- NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia)License: Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: NHS (nhs.uk, Anglia). Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The summary is ours and is not attributed to the NHS.
- NFZ i Akademia NFZLicense: Treści NFZ – wykorzystanie ze wskazaniem źródła, bez obrotu komercyjnego. Source: NFZ i Akademia NFZ. Content summarized and translated by the editors; changed relative to the original.