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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Heat colds are a very common type of cold, often occurring in the hot summer months, most commonly caused by accidentally catching a chill or getting caught in the rain. The typical symptoms of a heat cold include fever, as well as headache, dizziness, and varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. As for the initial treatment plan for a heat cold, it is commonly known that heat colds are often caused by viral infections. Therefore, early treatments for patients with heat colds mostly involve appropriate antiviral medications and drugs for clearing heat and detoxifying. Symptoms usually alleviate within about a week.

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How to alleviate whole body soreness from a cold

How to alleviate the body aches associated with a cold: Body aches are a typical symptom of influenza, resulting from infections by influenza viruses or parainfluenza viruses, and are characterized by notable prevalence trends. To alleviate these symptoms, clinically, antipyretic analgesic medications are generally chosen, such as taking aspirin or nimesulide. Additionally, it is advisable to drink more water, rest more, avoid excessive fatigue, and choose some antiviral medications. Treating these viral infections is considered a cause-specific treatment method. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor)

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Can a baby swim with a cold?

When a baby has a cold, their physical condition is not at its best, which means their physical ability will definitely decline. Under such circumstances, we do not recommend that the baby goes swimming. Swimming can increase physical exertion in the water, and sometimes the water temperature is not properly controlled, which could potentially increase the baby's burden. Especially when there is significant physical exhaustion, and if the water temperature is not well controlled, it may worsen the baby's cold symptoms. Therefore, we advise against swimming in this situation, but you can still give the baby a warm bath. However, make sure the duration is not too long, and the external temperature must also be appropriately managed.

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How many days will it take for a cold headache to get better?

Headache is a common symptom of the cold, which generally eases within three to four days. If a cold is accompanied by headaches, it is often considered severe. Symptoms like fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue may indicate a viral infection. It is advised to take antiviral medications under a doctor's guidance, along with medications for the cold to treat and alleviate these symptoms. Additionally, if the headache is severe, it's advisable to take some pain relief medication to ease the symptoms. Drinking plenty of water to promote excretion and boosting the immune system are also recommended. Moreover, maintaining a cheerful mood, keeping warm, avoiding exposure to cold, engaging in moderate exercise to enhance physical constitution, and avoiding strenuous activities which may lower resistance and exacerbate the cold are important. Therefore, it is suggested to engage in soothing exercises, avoid staying up late, and ensure adequate sleep to strengthen the body's defenses.

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Can babies take medicine when they have a cold?

Babies can certainly take medicine when they have a cold. However, if the symptoms are mild and the general condition is good, and the baby can eat and sleep well, it might not be necessary to medicate. It's important to pay close attention and there might be a possibility of natural recovery without medication. If the symptoms of the cold are severe, it is necessary to take medicine, because if it is not controlled in time, it may lead to new infections. For example, a secondary bacterial infection could develop, and there is also a possibility that a cold in the upper respiratory tract could progress to the lower respiratory tract and cause pneumonia, which poses a significant risk. When choosing medications, we generally need to opt for those safe for infants, and avoid any medications contraindicated for infants. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)