Which department should I visit for a cold and cough?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on April 09, 2025
00:00
00:00

For symptoms of cold and cough, it is necessary to visit the general internal medicine department of the hospital. If further examination and treatment are needed, the specialized department for this is respiratory medicine. The majority of these symptoms are due to swelling of the mucous membrane in the throat area, such as pharyngitis and tonsillitis, but it is also possible that they are caused by bronchitis or bronchopneumonia, etc. It is necessary to perform tests including a complete blood count, C-reactive protein, mycoplasma, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and a chest X-ray. Diagnosis should be made in conjunction with clinical symptoms. During the acute phase, it is necessary to choose sensitive antibiotics and medications that can alleviate bronchial smooth muscle spasms and dilute sputum for symptomatic treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
1min home-news-image

Can you drink alcohol when you have a cold and a stuffy nose?

A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, causes patients to experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing due to the congestion and swelling of the nasal mucous membrane from viral or bacterial infection. Some patients may also experience fever and coughing. Therefore, for patients with upper respiratory tract infections, it is not advisable to consume alcohol. Alcohol, which is spicy and stimulating, could worsen cold symptoms. Alcohol promotes blood circulation and can exacerbate congestion and swelling of the nasal and pharyngeal mucous membranes. Consequently, drinking alcohol can intensify symptoms like nasal congestion. Thus, it is not recommended to drink alcohol when experiencing nasal congestion during a cold.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Ying
Gastroenterology
36sec home-news-image

Symptoms of a stomach cold

The most common symptom of gastroenteritis is vomiting. The presence of pathogens irritates the stomach, causing it to contract and expel its contents. Secondly, diarrhea is a common symptom, primarily due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, which significantly increases secretions and affects absorption functions, leading to faster intestinal movements and resulting in loose stools. Thirdly, the increased intestinal movements can also lead to abdominal pain, along with the diarrhea.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
43sec home-news-image

Can you catch a cold during pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a normal physiological state for women to nurture a fetus. During pregnancy, factors such as a decrease in immunity, catching a cold, or malnutrition can lead to viral infections, causing symptoms of a cold. Whether a pregnant woman catches a cold mainly depends on her physical constitution, that is, her immune and resistance capacities. Pregnant women with a cold should avoid the indiscriminate and excessive use of medications, especially antibiotics, antiviral drugs, and hormonal products. It is important to drink plenty of water, rest adequately, and if medication is necessary, it should be chosen under the guidance of a doctor. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
26sec home-news-image

Is gastroenteritis contagious?

Gastrointestinal cold is a type of common cold, mainly caused by Coxsackie virus. Its main symptoms include stomach pain, bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, tiredness, etc. Gastrointestinal cold is generally non-contagious. A contagious illness is generally referred to as influenza, which is caused by the influenza virus and can lead to widespread outbreaks.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Does common cold cause dry cough?

In clinical practice, ailments like the common cold, also known as upper respiratory infections, generally occur in patients due to reduced immune function, exposure to cold, or contraction of wind-cold, causing various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, dry and itchy throat, coughing, and pain. Therefore, as with the previous infection, most clinical cases are caused by viral infections. So, when patients suffer from upper respiratory infections, they often experience varying degrees of dry cough, which is very common. Typically, identifying the specific infecting pathogen causing the common cold and providing symptomatic treatment can lead to a full recovery within about a week. For severe dry cough symptoms, appropriate cough suppressant medications can be used for symptomatic treatment.