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Common cold
Sore throat without cold symptoms
If it is just a simple sore throat without any other cold symptoms, it could possibly be due to an early stage cold, acute pharyngitis, acute laryngitis, acute tonsillitis, or acute epiglottitis. Some patients may also experience neurogenic pain in the throat area. Overall, there are many possible causes, and it's hard to determine based solely on symptoms. Therefore, it is recommended to visit an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist, who can perform an indirect laryngoscopy or a fiber optic laryngoscopy to clearly observe the specific condition and location of the disease within the throat. Additionally, a complete blood count test can be helpful in determining whether there is an acute bacterial or viral infection causing inflammation. If there is an acute infection causing inflammation, antibiotic treatment may be considered, along with regular follow-ups.
How to measure temperature for a baby with a cold
Children catching a cold is a common occurrence, often accompanied by varying degrees of fever. Accurate temperature measurement is crucial for timely treatment with specialized medications. The most frequently and accurately measured temperature is the rectal temperature, as it is closest to the core body temperature. This measurement typically uses a mercury thermometer and takes about three minutes. If a mercury thermometer is not available, an infrared thermometer can also be used to measure the baby's ear temperature. Ear temperature also closely approximates the core body temperature. However, during measurement, it is essential to straighten the ear canal as much as possible to keep it in a straight line for accurate results. If it is not possible to measure the rectal or ear temperature, then measuring the forehead temperature is an alternative. However, the temperature on the forehead is generally about 0.5℃ lower than the rectal or ear temperature. This measurement is more affected by various factors and has a larger margin of error, which needs special attention.
What to eat when you have a cold, headache, and nasal congestion?
If you have symptoms such as headache and nasal congestion with a cold, it is recommended that in addition to taking anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications and cold medicine under the guidance of a doctor, you should also eat some foods that have the effect of expelling colds, such as appropriately boiling some brown sugar ginger juice to drink, or frying eggs with ginger and sesame oil. These dietary methods have the effect of expelling cold and stopping cough, and can also relieve symptoms of nasal congestion and headache well. If the pain is severe, you can take pain relief medication and combine it with massaging the temples to alleviate symptoms. Be sure to rest plenty, avoid overexertion, keep indoor air fresh and circulating, and also pay attention to eating more fresh fruits and vegetables to supplement vitamins, enhance your immunity, and promote disease recovery.
The difference between influenza and the common cold
Influenza, also known as the flu, mainly occurs when the human body is invaded by influenza viruses, resulting in symptoms primarily of coughing, fever, and sore throat. Besides these symptoms, influenza can also present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The body temperature of patients often exceeds 39°C or 40°C. On the other hand, the common cold is mostly caused by rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, EB viruses, or even infections from Haemophilus influenzae, leading to relatively localized lesions. Common symptoms of a cold include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat, and it may not include fever. The prognosis of the common cold is generally better than that of influenza, and it is less likely to lead to severe complications.
How many days does it take to recover from a cold caused by wind-cold?
Patients with a common cold due to wind-cold usually improve within about 3 to 7 days under normal conditions. The most severe period is the first 1 to 2 days, during which symptoms such as severe coughing and a runny nose are more pronounced. It is recommended to always pay attention to keeping warm and avoid getting chilled to prevent worsening the condition. If the cold is severe, it is crucial to go to a formal hospital in time and treat the symptoms based on the doctor's guidance. Additionally, one can use some anti-inflammatory and wind-cold fighting medicines for effective treatment, which can help improve the cold and hasten the healing process.
What are the symptoms of a cold in children?
Pediatric colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, exhibit symptoms that can be categorized into local and systemic symptoms. Local symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, discomfort in the throat, and sore throat. Systemic symptoms primarily consist of overall weakness, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and generalized aches. In infants and toddlers, local symptoms are generally not as pronounced, while systemic symptoms tend to be more severe. For some children aged six months to three years, colds accompanied by fever can also lead to febrile convulsions. In older children, local symptoms are usually more prominent, while systemic symptoms are milder. Regarding this type of acute upper respiratory infection, there are two common specific types in children: herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever.
How to deal with a cold caused by deficient fire?
Deficiency fever colds are generally caused by congenital insufficiencies and bodily weakness, leading to pathogenic yin. It may also result from imbalances between yin and yang, or dysfunction of the spleen. For this type of cold, there is no need to panic, as it can be managed with traditional Chinese medicine. Colds relating to deficiency fever typically manifest with symptoms such as oral sores, dizziness, headaches, irritability, and insomnia. Effective improvement can be achieved by taking medicine that reduces deficiency heat. Alternatively, maintaining a light and simple diet can effectively help improve gastrointestinal digestion. (Medicine should be used under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Symptoms of the common cold recur repeatedly.
If cold symptoms repeatedly occur, it is primarily considered to be due to poor bodily resistance and physical fitness. In this case, it is crucial to focus on improving dietary nutrition by consuming foods rich in vitamin C and protein, eating smaller meals more frequently, and avoiding overeating at one time. Additionally, it is important to engage in active outdoor activities, increase physical exercise, enhance physical fitness, and improve personal resistance. It is also vital not to stay up late and to ensure adequate sleep, as the body promotes self-repair during rest and sleep, which can help alleviate cold symptoms more quickly. Besides these actions, it is necessary to follow a doctor's guidance and cooperate with the doctor to take the appropriate medications to treat the symptoms. Do not stop or reduce the medication dosage on your own to avoid repeated illness and prolonged recovery.
Why can't people with polycystic kidney disease catch a cold?
Polycystic kidney disease is an autosomal dominant hereditary disease. As the patient's age increases, the cysts of polycystic kidney will gradually enlarge, and the risk of renal function abnormalities and related complications will increase. If the patient catches a cold, it will exacerbate the abnormality of kidney function. Furthermore, the use of some antiviral and antibacterial drugs metabolized through the kidneys can also increase the burden on the kidneys, further causing damage to them. Therefore, patients with polycystic kidney disease should try to avoid colds, diarrhea, urinary tract infections, and other related infectious diseases.
Is a cold with green nasal discharge serious?
Having a cold accompanied by green purulent nasal discharge is a common and frequent symptom in otolaryngology. The cause of these symptoms is primarily fungal sinusitis caused by a fungal infection in the patient. When these symptoms occur, it is important to first complete a paranasal sinus CT, electronic nasopharyngoscope, complete blood count, and nasal secretion culture to identify the pathogen causing the patient's illness and make a clear diagnosis. Additionally, timely use of antiviral drugs and medications that clear the throat and open the nasal passages should be administered for symptomatic treatment. For patients with sinus ostium blockage and fungal sinusitis, functional endoscopic sinus surgery is also needed to open the sinus ostium, restore normal drainage between the sinus and the nasal cavity, and thus achieve a cure for the patient's condition.