The cause of colds and flu

Written by Qiu Xin Hui
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on March 11, 2025
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Cold and influenza are what traditional Chinese medicine refers to as 'wind-cold common cold.' The main causes are due to a decrease in the body's resistance, exposure to cold wind, and the inability to expel it from the body promptly. This results in a series of symptoms related to the wind-cold common cold, such as nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, sore limbs, chills, and fever. At this time, active treatment should be carried out, and it is appropriate to eat more warm foods or take medicines for conditioning. At home, you can use ginger brown sugar water, drink more hot porridge, and cover with thick blankets to make the body sweat slightly, which can alleviate the symptoms.

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Is a sore throat caused by a cold with wind-cold or a cold with wind-heat?

Sore throat may be caused by a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat, which are terms used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, from a Western medicine perspective, both wind-cold and wind-heat colds are caused by viral infections, and in rare cases, bacterial infections. When bacteria or viruses invade the respiratory tract's mucous membranes, especially the mucous membranes of the throat, it leads to congestion and swelling of the throat mucosa, increased exudation of inflammatory secretions, resulting in symptoms such as sore throat, throat discomfort, and coughing up phlegm. Therefore, a sore throat could be due to a cold caused by wind-cold or wind-heat. In such cases, it is appropriate to take some anti-cold medications or some Chinese patent medicines to alleviate the symptoms.

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What are the symptoms of a cold in children?

Pediatric colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, exhibit symptoms that can be categorized into local and systemic symptoms. Local symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, discomfort in the throat, and sore throat. Systemic symptoms primarily consist of overall weakness, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and generalized aches. In infants and toddlers, local symptoms are generally not as pronounced, while systemic symptoms tend to be more severe. For some children aged six months to three years, colds accompanied by fever can also lead to febrile convulsions. In older children, local symptoms are usually more prominent, while systemic symptoms are milder. Regarding this type of acute upper respiratory infection, there are two common specific types in children: herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever.

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

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What is chill in the context of cold?

Colds caused by exposure to wind are common, so it's advisable to take some cold medicine or drink herbal teas, such as chrysanthemum tea, to alleviate symptoms. It's important to maintain adequate sleep, avoid excessive stress and overheating. If the cold is severe, it is best to visit a local hospital for symptomatic treatment by a doctor rather than self-medicating blindly. In terms of home environment, it’s recommended to avoid direct exposure to air conditioning or fans. Drinking plenty of lukewarm water and eating nutritious foods, such as lean meats, eggs, beans, and dairy products, can help boost the immune system. It's also wise to consume less spicy and irritating foods.

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Green nasal discharge is what kind of cold?

Nasal discharge that appears blue-green in color is primarily caused by viral infections such as the common cold, with symptoms including obvious nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, and fever. The common causative viruses include influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus. We can determine the specific causative virus by testing for influenza antibodies in the blood. Based on the patient's test results, antiviral medications, as well as medicines that clear the nasal passages, are used to improve symptoms. In daily life, it is important to maintain hygiene, wash hands frequently, ensure good ventilation, wear masks, and avoid crowded places to prevent infection.