What are the symptoms of viral colds in children?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 15, 2024
00:00
00:00

Symptoms of viral cold in children include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough with phlegm, fever, headache, body aches, and sore throat. When having a cold, it is important to rest first, avoid strenuous exercise, and allow the body to focus its resources on the functioning of the immune system. It is also important to drink plenty of water, as all immune mechanisms rely on sufficient water. Drinking more water leads to more urination, which increases the excretion of water-soluble vitamins, so it is necessary to adequately supplement water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin B. Fruits and vegetables are preferred. Additionally, symptomatic medication treatment should be applied.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
57sec home-news-image

How to treat a child's cold and cough?

For upper respiratory infections in children causing colds and coughs, the treatment approach should vary based on the child's age, as well as the severity and duration of the illness. For mild cases with less severe symptoms, treatment can be administered at home including frequent hydration, drinking plenty of water, and symptomatic oral administration of expectorants and cough suppressants. If the child's cold and cough symptoms are more severe, with significant coughing and phlegm, and are even affecting the child's sleep, it is typically recommended for parents to take their child to the hospital for blood tests. These tests may include a complete blood count, Mycoplasma testing, or a C-reactive protein test, to identify the specific cause of the cold and cough, and to enable targeted treatment. (Note: The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

How should a child's cough be treated after a cold?

After catching a cold followed by coughing, this is often due to viral or bacterial infections leading to pharyngitis, bronchitis, or pneumonia that cause coughing. Under this circumstance, the initial treatment is anti-infection. If it is considered a bacterial infection, then sensitive antibiotics should be added either orally or intravenously; if a viral infection is considered, then the primary treatment is symptomatic. For instance, taking some expectorant and cough suppressant medications, including Western or proprietary Chinese medicines. Concurrently, nebulizer inhalation can be administered to achieve expectoration, spasm relief, and cough suppression. Additionally, intravenous cough suppressants, enhancing back patting, and drinking more warm water can help dilute sputum and promote its expulsion among other treatments.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
1min 14sec home-news-image

Do children with colds need to take cephalosporins?

Pediatric colds can be divided into viral colds and bacterial infections that cause upper respiratory tract symptoms. Generally speaking, 90% of cases are commonly viral colds. Viral colds are mainly treated symptomatically. Appropriate antiviral medications can be used, and antipyretics can be given during fevers. Also, drinking plenty of warm water and using some Chinese patent medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying can be sufficient. However, if the viral infection lasts a long time, it can easily lead to a secondary bacterial infection. In such cases, antibiotics can be used. Initially, oral penicillin antibiotics should be chosen, and cephalosporin antibiotics can also be selected for anti-infection treatment. If considering bacterial infection causing upper respiratory tract infection, such as acute tonsillitis caused by streptococcus infection, oral penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics for anti-infection treatment can be used. Therefore, it is essential to choose medications based on the specific situation. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Feng Hai Tao
Pediatrics
1min 1sec home-news-image

What fruits are good for children to eat when they have a cold?

During a cold, babies generally have reduced appetite. At this time, it is appropriate to supplement some fruits for the baby, which can enhance the baby's appetite, aid in digestion, and provide a significant amount of vitamin C and calories. It can also enhance the baby's resistance and immunity, promoting recovery from the illness. For example, eating more apples, pears, bananas, grapefruits, oranges, and other fruits that are rich in vitamin C and are bright in color and sweet in taste, which are favored by babies. However, during the process of feeding fruits to a baby, it is essential to adopt a method of eating small meals frequently. Try to avoid giving the baby raw, cold food and do not overfeed as it might lead to poor digestion. Furthermore, it is best not to feed the baby foods that are likely to cause allergies, as this can affect the baby's digestive absorption functions.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
37sec home-news-image

The Difference between a Cold and the Flu in Children

Epidemic influenza and the common cold have different pathogens for children. The main cause of epidemic influenza is the influenza virus or parainfluenza virus, meaning that the cold is caused by one or both of these viruses. This condition is called influenza. On the other hand, the common cold can be caused by many viruses, such as rhinovirus or coronavirus, and includes the influenza virus among others. Therefore, the pathogens are different; about 90% of common colds are caused by viruses.