Can a baby take a bath when they have a cold?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on January 13, 2025
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When babies have a cold, it is generally not recommended to give them a bath soak, but showering is acceptable. This is because soaking for an extended period may worsen the symptoms of the cold. However, if the baby has a fever, showering with warm water can help reduce their temperature, which is an effective physical cooling measure. But if soaking in a bath, the extended time in the water and the slight dilation of pores may allow cold to penetrate further into the body, potentially worsening the cold symptoms. Therefore, under these circumstances, it is temporarily advised against giving babies a bath soak. However, a medicinal herbal bath is a different matter.

Other Voices

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Where to press for a headache from a cold?

When we have a cold and experience headaches from wind-cold, we can alleviate some clinical symptoms through massage, targeting specific areas. The selection of massage points varies depending on the patient's pain location and clinical symptoms. For example, if the pain is in the yangming meridian, which typically presents with forehead pain, common points for massage would include Yintang, Shangxing, and Yangbai. For headaches in the taiyang meridian, points such as Tianzhu, Fengchi, Houxi, and Shenmai are chosen. If the headache encompasses the entire head, points like Baihui, Yintang, Taiyang, Touwei, Yangbai, Hegu, and Fengchi can be massaged. Clinically, it's essential to differentiate based on the different headache locations and symptoms to select the appropriate acupuncture points for massage. Additionally, if the headache is caused by external pathogenic factors, points like Fengchi and Fengmen can be differentiated, and adding moxibustion at Dazhui can also help alleviate symptoms of headache due to a cold.

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How long will the symptoms of a cold last?

The duration of cold symptoms varies depending on individual constitution and the type of cold. Generally, a common cold may take three to five days to recover, while influenza could require five to ten days. The specific duration depends on the quantity of the virus and the body's immune capacity. Both influenza and the common cold are viral infections that cause illness, and there are some differences in symptoms. However, the treatment plans are the same, focusing on symptomatic treatment, complemented by antiviral medication, with recommendations to drink plenty of water, rest, and boost metabolism.

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How many days until one can eat after a stomach flu?

Patients with gastrointestinal colds can continue to eat if they are able to do so without skipping meals. Therefore, it is not necessary to wait until the cold is over before eating. Additionally, consuming nutritious foods can aid significantly in the recovery from a gastrointestinal cold. It is advisable to eat soft, easily digestible foods, such as vegetable soup, noodle soup, and rice soup. Increase vegetable intake and stay hydrated. Avoid raw, cold, and spicy, irritating foods. It is important to rest and actively use medication for treatment.

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Symptoms of bacterial cold

Bacterial cold, commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, is just one of the more common types of colds. Generally, when bacteria infect the respiratory tract, it causes the patient to experience varying degrees of fever, headache, dizziness, and even chills, as well as symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, and even some nasal congestion. Therefore, patients with bacterial colds generally exhibit these symptoms. Of course, some patients with bacterial colds might have lighter infections and may not exhibit typical clinical symptoms of discomfort. Thus, the clinical symptoms presented by each patient with bacterial colds can vary. For patients with bacterial colds, a clear diagnosis can be made by combining some clinical presentations with related auxiliary examinations.

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What fruits should not be eaten when having a cold?

Theoretically, most fruits can be consumed during a cold, as there is no necessary connection between having a cold and consuming any specific fruit. Eating fruits will not exacerbate the clinical symptoms of a cold nor affect its outcome. Since a cold is a self-limiting disease caused by a viral infection, it might present with symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Moreover, most fruits contain an abundance of water and vitamins, which provide beneficial replenishments for the losses caused by the cold. However, if it is a gastroenteric type of cold, it is generally advisable to avoid raw and cold fruits, such as those high in amino acids or those that can easily cause diarrhea, common examples being grapes and bananas.