Symptoms of a cold in children

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on November 20, 2024
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The symptoms of a minor cold most commonly involve fever in children, accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and coughing. Some may also experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and even symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The symptoms can vary for each child. Some babies with a cold may only show symptoms like a runny nose, mild cough, and nasal congestion. Others might present with recurrent high fever, lethargy, and even vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, it is important to adopt appropriate treatment measures tailored to each specific cause of the illness.

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Symptoms of gastroenteritis

Gastrointestinal flu is caused by a viral infection, commonly seen in the summer and fall seasons, and its symptoms often include those of both upper respiratory tract infections and acute gastroenteritis. Symptoms of upper respiratory infection include fever, chills, dizziness, headache, fatigue, general muscle pain, sore throat, cough, etc.; symptoms of acute gastroenteritis are vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, etc., often presenting as watery stools. This disease can be diagnosed through routine blood tests and stool exams, which help distinguish it from bacterial infections causing diarrhea. Treatment typically involves oral antiviral medications and anti-diarrheal drugs.

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The difference between bacterial cold and viral cold

The primary differences between bacterial colds and viral colds are as follows: Firstly, their pathogens are different. Bacterial colds are caused by bacterial infections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to bacterial colds. Viral colds are caused by viral infections, including rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Secondly, their clinical symptoms also differ. Bacterial colds may present with high fever, coughing, and purulent sputum. In contrast, viral colds rarely involve a high fever, and typically include symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and coughing up white mucus. Thirdly, their treatment methods differ. Bacterial colds generally require anti-inflammatory medications, while viral colds are often treated with antiviral medications.

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What to eat when you have a stomach cold and a high fever?

Gastrointestinal flu with high fever requires a diet primarily consisting of soft, easy-to-digest foods. It is also necessary to consume more vegetables and fruits to supplement dietary fiber. Avoid cold, raw, and spicy, irritating foods. It is important to promptly use medications for treatment, such as those that clear heat and dampness, promote qi and release the exterior, dissipate heat and soothe the liver, suppress gastric acid secretion, and protect the gastric mucosa and intestines. For diarrhea, symptomatic antidiarrheal treatment should be used, and keep the abdomen warm. Rest more during this period and avoid excessive fatigue. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician)

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Will a cold with nasal congestion get better on its own?

Cold, also known as upper respiratory tract infection, manifests clinically in patients with varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. It's important first to identify the upper respiratory tract infection, which is mainly caused by a viral infection that leads to symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes a sore throat. For viral infections causing inflammatory lesions in the respiratory tract, in cases where the patient's immune function is strong, the symptoms of nasal congestion caused by the viral cold can resolve on their own. However, in infants or elderly people with lower immune function, when a viral cold occurs, symptomatic treatment with antiviral drugs can lead to a quicker recovery.

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What should I do if my cold doesn't get better?

The common cold generally follows a process. Eighty percent of common colds start as viral colds, characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and other catarrhal symptoms. Generally, after three to five days, these catarrhal symptoms gradually disappear, as the virus is self-limiting. If the symptoms do not improve after three to five days and are accompanied by coughing, purulent sputum, and fever, it may have progressed to a bacterial cold, which requires antibiotic treatment. When we commonly refer to a persistent cold, we mainly refer to a cough. Some people might experience a cold for more than ten days, or repeatedly suffer from a dry cough. At this time, it's not that their cold hasn't healed; rather, it's because the respiratory tract has been damaged and needs time to recover. Typically, this kind of irritating dry cough without sputum generally lasts for a while.