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

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 21, 2024
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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.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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Will children with colds have recurrent low-grade fever?

Children with a cold may experience recurrent low fevers. In children, colds are generally caused by viral infections, such as rhinoviruses, common coronaviruses, etc. The symptoms include fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, etc., and the duration of the illness is mostly three to five days, usually not exceeding a week. Therefore, during the course of the illness, the symptoms of a cold may recur. During the illness, fever-reducing measures are taken, such as physical cooling and medication. However, after the fever subsides, it may recur, which is a normal phenomenon.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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What to do if a child catches a cold and loses appetite?

When children catch a cold, bacteria or viruses may invade the gastrointestinal tract, affecting its function and causing a loss of appetite. Therefore, when children show symptoms of a cold, in addition to fever, runny nose, and cough, they may also experience poor appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, and even vomiting and diarrhea. When a child has a loss of appetite due to a cold, in addition to treating the symptoms with cold medicine, we can also provide a light diet, encourage more water intake, and give easily digestible, vitamin-rich foods. Additionally, administering Chinese herbal medicine to strengthen the spleen and stomach can be beneficial.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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How effective is Xiao'er Ganmao Ning Heji?

Xiao'er Ganmao Ning combination is a non-prescription medication with Chinese herbal ingredients, used for treating colds in children. It is primarily used for symptoms such as fever and cough. It can be administered to children experiencing nasal congestion, runny nose, coughs, and throat discomfort, and it generally has a good therapeutic effect. While taking Xiao'er Ganmao Ning, it is essential to ensure the child drinks plenty of water. Additionally, if a bacterial infection or tracheitis has developed due to the cold, treatment should be combined with other medications based on the child's specific condition. Overall, Xiao'er Ganmao Ning mixture is a viable option for treating common colds in children and can effectively achieve the intended treatment goals. (Note: The answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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How many days will it take for a child to recover from a cold?

How long it takes for a child to recover from a cold depends on the specific circumstances. If it's just a minor cold, like a common viral cold with symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing, the symptoms can generally be controlled within about 3 to 5 days. However, if the child's cold symptoms are more severe, including high fever, coughing, and a runny nose, it could take longer, possibly 5 to 7 days or more. This is because some colds can lead to bronchitis or even develop into pneumonia. It is difficult to specify an exact duration in such cases. For instance, bronchitis generally requires about 5 to 7 days of treatment to control the symptoms. If pneumonia is involved, the recovery might take even longer, around 7 to 10 days or up to 2 weeks. Therefore, an assessment based on the child's specific condition is needed to estimate how long it might take to recover. A typical mild cold can usually have its symptoms controlled within about 3 to 5 days.

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Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
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What is the matter with children feeling unwell in the stomach when they have a cold?

In Chinese medicine, common colds in children are categorized as cold-induced, heat-induced, damp-heat, and epidemic colds. Within the context of colds, complications often arise in three forms: phlegm retention, food retention, and particularly startle retention. Colds in children that result in difficulty with food retention are caused by damage due to food retention. This is because children inherently have a weak spleen that cannot hold substances well; they lack self-restraint in eating and drinking. After being affected by external pathogenic factors, the spleen fails to transport and transform food effectively, leading to stagnation in the middle burner, impeding the flow of vital energy, and causing symptoms such as abdominal distension, pain, loss of appetite, and even vomiting.