What should I do if I have a cold with headache and fever?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on November 17, 2024
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When experiencing symptoms of a cold such as headache and fever, one should first measure their body temperature and adopt corresponding treatment measures based on the severity of the fever. Fever can cause headaches, fatigue, body aches, and may even lead to complications like nausea and vomiting. If the body temperature does not exceed 38℃ (100.4°F), one can take vitamin supplements, drink ginger tea, and use physical methods to reduce fever. If the body temperature is above 38℃ (100.4°F), one may consider taking antipyretic and pain-relieving medications like ibuprofen or aspirin to alleviate symptoms. Generally, once the body temperature returns to normal, headache symptoms will gradually improve or disappear. (The use of medications should be based on specific conditions and under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Lu
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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.

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Sore throat without cold symptoms

Sore throat is a relatively common clinical symptom, with many causes. If the duration is short, it could be due to acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, or acute epiglottitis. If the condition lasts longer or recurs frequently, it may be caused by chronic pharyngitis or chronic tonsillitis. Therefore, after the onset, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department for diagnosis, where a laryngoscope examination and routine blood tests can be performed to clarify the specific cause, before targeted treatment can be administered. Regular follow-ups are also needed to monitor the treatment effects.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
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Can I eat oranges if I have a cold in the summer?

Colds that occur in the summer are generally more often heat-induced colds. Symptoms of heat-induced colds typically include fever, headache, or overall fatigue, along with chills, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and coughing among other clinical symptoms. It is generally not recommended for patients with such colds to eat oranges. Oranges are highly nutritious, containing a large amount of Vitamin C and some B vitamins. However, oranges can cause "internal heat," and eating too many oranges may exacerbate symptoms like sore throat. Therefore, it is generally advised not to eat oranges when one has a cold during summer. If one really wants to eat oranges, consuming a small amount, just a few segments, is acceptable.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
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Cold symptoms also include diarrhea.

Colds may involve symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, and phlegm. If there are also symptoms like diarrhea and watery stools, it is possible that it might be a gastrointestinal type of cold. Besides the common cold symptoms, there might also be gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, acid reflux, or burping. It is recommended that in such cases, in addition to taking anti-cold medicine, one should also take medicine to regulate the spleen and stomach for treatment, such as other traditional Chinese medicines that adjust the spleen and stomach functions. It is also important to maintain a light diet, eat smaller meals frequently, and if the diarrhea is severe, anti-diarrheal medication should be taken for treatment. (The specific use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
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Can you take cold medicine if you have nephrotic syndrome and catch a cold?

People with nephrotic syndrome have particularly weak immune systems, making them especially prone to infections and colds. Once a cold occurs in someone with nephrotic syndrome, the patient often experiences headaches, whole-body muscle soreness, sore throat, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. In other words, patients with nephrotic syndrome feel very uncomfortable when they catch a cold. If kidney function is normal, it is still possible to take cold medicine. Of course, before using cold medicine, it is essential to follow the doctor's advice for medication treatment. Moreover, after catching a cold with nephrotic syndrome, in addition to taking medication, it is important to rest, consume fresh vegetables and fruits, drink plenty of water, and maintain a light diet. Additionally, it is important to rest, avoid overwork, and if there is a concurrent bacterial infection, sensitive antibiotics should be used for anti-infection treatment, to avoid the recurrence or aggravation of nephrotic syndrome due to infections or colds.