What should a baby eat when they have a cold?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 26, 2024
00:00
00:00

During a cold, both babies and adults generally prefer liquid food over solid food. Babies who haven't started on solid food should drink as much milk as possible. For those who are beginning to eat solid foods, in addition to drinking more milk, you can also appropriately increase their intake of plain water and rice porridge. Older children, besides the aforementioned, can also appropriately consume some light soups and can increase their intake of fresh vegetables and fruits. These can be made into vegetable purees or juiced according to the baby's needs. Babies are more prone to dehydration when they have a cold or fever. To prevent dehydration or treat mild dehydration, fresh apple juice can be used as a substitute. For moderate or severe dehydration, seek medical attention promptly; the doctor will take necessary measures for rehydration.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
50sec home-news-image

What department should a pregnant woman visit if she has a cold?

During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman catches a cold, she should visit the hospital promptly. The departments she needs to consult include the following: Firstly, she needs to visit the obstetrics department. The purpose of visiting obstetrics is not to treat the cold, but to assess whether the fetus has been affected by the cold and to evaluate the safety of the medications used for treating the cold. Secondly, she should consult the department of respiratory medicine. A cold falls under the purview of respiratory diseases, and a respiratory doctor should be consulted to determine whether medication is necessary. If it is a mild cold, medication is generally not required. However, for a severe cold, medication to reduce fever or antiviral drugs may be used, but these must be discussed with the obstetrician before use.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
43sec home-news-image

Where to apply moxibustion for gastroenteritis?

Patients with gastroenteritis can undergo moxibustion at acupoints such as Zusanli (ST36), Shenshu (BL23), Feishu (BL13), and Quchi (LI11) for effective improvement. However, it is crucial to perform moxibustion under the guidance of a qualified physician to achieve the therapeutic goals based on the individual's condition. Do not attempt to perform moxibustion on yourself blindly, as it may worsen the condition or cause other adverse reactions. Additionally, it is important to take medication promptly for gastroenteritis to achieve effective treatment. It is generally advisable to consume a light diet to avoid further burdening the digestive system.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
39sec home-news-image

Physical cooling methods for colds

Fever symptoms caused by a cold can be treated with physical cooling methods. There are many commonly used methods in clinical practice. For adults, one can wipe the palms, soles, neck, and chest—areas where major blood vessels run—with warm water or alcohol. You can also use a cool towel or ice packs to compress the forehead. Drinking herbal concoctions like scallion water or ginger sugar water can also help reduce fever physically. Additionally, soaking feet in Sichuan peppercorn water can be effective. Regardless of the method used, it's important to drink plenty of water and recheck the temperature after two hours.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Yong
Traditional Chinese Medicine
39sec home-news-image

Does a wind-heat cold cause clear nasal discharge?

Wind-heat cold often leads to the occurrence of a runny nose with clear mucus, which is common at the onset of this type of cold. Wind-heat cold is a common type of cold. Wind-heat cold frequently occurs in the summer and can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, headache, dizziness, fever, sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and sore throat. During a wind-heat cold, the cough typically produces phlegm. Treatment primarily involves the oral administration of cool and pungent herbs that relieve the exterior symptoms. It is also advised to drink plenty of water, eat a light diet, and rest adequately during a cold.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
51sec home-news-image

Is wind-heat cold contagious?

"Wind-heat cold" is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and diagnosed through TCM methods; from a Western medicine perspective, it could also be a viral infection. Viral colds can be contagious, so sometimes, wind-heat colds may be contagious as well. Therefore, it is necessary to take certain measures to prevent the spread of the disease, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women. It's advisable for these groups to avoid contact with individuals who have a wind-heat cold to prevent infection. There is also a need to be cautious of the possibility of bacterial infections in such cases. If the patient has a bacterial infection, active treatment, potentially including antibiotics, may be required.