What foods are good for children with a cold?

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on October 29, 2024
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Children's colds are acute upper respiratory infections, and children can have rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc. Most are caused by viral infections and are self-limiting. Therefore, during a cold, it is important to ensure that the child drinks plenty of water, rests a lot, eats more green vegetables, and supplements some vitamins.

The diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding heavy meals with large fish and meat, as well as snacks, sweets, and even puffed food. It is very helpful for the recovery from a cold to eat more fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C. Also, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest are very important.

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Written by Zhang Qin Liang
Pediatrics
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Is rectal administration good for children with colds?

Rectal administration of medicine is not a treatment method used in formal hospitals; it is typically used for sedation or certain gastrointestinal disorders, requiring enema treatment. In some smaller clinics, enemas and rectal administration of medication might be used to treat children's fever and colds, which is an irregular treatment method and is best avoided. This may cause damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and lead to disorders such as diarrhea. Therefore, formal hospitals do not recommend using rectal administration to treat common issues like children's colds and fevers. Moreover, this method could potentially lead to side effects from the medication, affecting body functions.

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
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How to treat a child's cold with a stuffy nose

When children catch a cold, they may exhibit symptoms such as fever, runny nose, nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. If a child's nasal congestion is severe and the nose is blocked, we can apply a warm towel to the root of the nose for a hot compress, or gently remove the nasal secretions using a small cotton swab. It is also possible to apply some nasal ointment at the vestibule of the nose to improve air passage. At the same time, it is advised to administer cold medicine for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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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.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What foods are good for children with a cold?

Children's colds are acute upper respiratory infections, and children can have rhinitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, etc. Most are caused by viral infections and are self-limiting. Therefore, during a cold, it is important to ensure that the child drinks plenty of water, rests a lot, eats more green vegetables, and supplements some vitamins. The diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding heavy meals with large fish and meat, as well as snacks, sweets, and even puffed food. It is very helpful for the recovery from a cold to eat more fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C. Also, drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest are very important.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
1min 3sec home-news-image

What should I do if a child has a cold and an earache?

When a child catches a cold, it indicates that the child has an acute upper respiratory tract infection. About 90% of acute upper respiratory tract infections are caused by viral infections, and approximately 10% are caused by bacterial infections. It is important to actively deal with a child's cold. If a child experiences ear pain during the cold, it is essential to take the child to an otolaryngologist to check their ears, as acute otitis media is the most common complication after a cold. The child may develop acute serous otitis media, and if not promptly treated, it can lead to rupture or perforation of the eardrum. Therefore, it is crucial to rule out otitis media when a child with a cold experiences ear pain. If otitis media is ruled out and the child still has ear pain, it may simply be a symptom of the cold.