How to take care of a baby with a cold

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on April 08, 2025
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When a baby has a cold, it indicates that the baby has an acute upper respiratory infection. Over 90% of colds are caused by viral infections, and 10% are caused by bacterial infections. When a child catches a cold, in addition to administering medication, nursing care is very important. First, the child should be allowed to rest, sleep more, drink plenty of plain water, and avoid vigorous activities. It is important to monitor the child's temperature and promptly manage any symptoms if the child develops a fever. Additionally, ensure that the child's diet is light and easy to digest; it's better to drink more soups and avoid fatty meats or sweets. Also, under the guidance of a doctor, administer symptomatic medications to the child, and always follow the instructions carefully when using medications to avoid taking too much or too little, as either can be inappropriate.

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Can you exercise when you have a cold in the summer?

Generally speaking, it is not advisable to exercise after catching a cold; it is usually recommended to rest instead. This is because after catching a cold, a person's immune system is often weakened, commonly accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, and decreased appetite. If one exercises during this time, it will inevitably increase the body's consumption, further reducing the body's resistance, weakening the body even more, and hindering the recovery from the illness. Moreover, exercise increases lung capacity, leading to a higher volume of air passing through the airways, which can aggravate symptoms such as throat discomfort and cough associated with a cold. From this perspective, it is also unsuitable to exercise.

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Do you need to take medicine for a cold with nasal congestion?

Nasal congestion due to a cold is very common in clinical practice. The need for medication depends on the type of cold and the patient's own immune function. If the patient has a cold caused by a viral infection and the symptoms are not severe, or if the patient generally likes to exercise and is young, a mild cold may not require medication and can heal on its own within about a week. For children or elderly individuals with weaker resistance, when an upper respiratory infection occurs, it is advisable to administer some medication for symptomatic treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and to avoid unnecessary complications.

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The difference between influenza and the common cold

Influenza, also known as the flu, mainly occurs when the human body is invaded by influenza viruses, resulting in symptoms primarily of coughing, fever, and sore throat. Besides these symptoms, influenza can also present with gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. The body temperature of patients often exceeds 39°C or 40°C. On the other hand, the common cold is mostly caused by rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses, EB viruses, or even infections from Haemophilus influenzae, leading to relatively localized lesions. Common symptoms of a cold include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat, and it may not include fever. The prognosis of the common cold is generally better than that of influenza, and it is less likely to lead to severe complications.

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What to do when you catch a cold and cough in summer?

During summer, due to the hot weather, air conditioning is often used. If the air conditioning is set too cold, it might cause some people to catch a chill, leading to various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. For patients with such symptoms, the first step is to check if they have a fever and identify any other accompanying clinical symptoms. If the patient simply has a dry cough, it may be appropriate to use some heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines. Then, depending on the nature of the cough, central cough suppressants should be used as symptomatic treatment. Generally, recovery can happen within a week under such treatment. In cases of a summer cold where the patient starts to produce phlegm in the later stages of coughing, it is then necessary to use some anti-inflammatory medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this may indicate a possible bacterial infection. (The use of medications should be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Seasonal change cold is what kind of cold?

Seasonal colds are caused by the change of seasons, where the difference between day and night temperatures is significant. This cold is due to external pathogenic wind, which is related to a decrease in the body's immune capacity and exposure to cold. It involves infection by rhinoviruses and can lead to symptoms like runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, headache, and fever. It is advised to drink plenty of water, rest, monitor body temperature, and treat symptoms accordingly. If there are no other complications, complete recovery can occur within 3 to 7 days.