Can babies take medicine when they have a cold?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on April 03, 2025
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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.)

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Symptoms of a cold in a baby over 40 days old

The symptoms of a cold in a baby over 40 days old are definitely different from those in adults. Parents should observe whether the baby's behavior has changed. For example, if the baby becomes noticeably fussy or irritable, especially while sleeping, or if the baby has nasal congestion, a runny nose, or sneezing, these could be signs. Also, if the baby drools bubbles at the corners of the mouth while sleeping quietly, breathes noticeably faster, vomits milk after feeding more frequently than usual, or if there is an increase in the frequency and looseness of stools and bloating, these may indicate a cold. If cold symptoms appear, please seek medical attention promptly, as babies have weaker immune systems and their conditions can progress quickly. Without timely intervention, it is easy for the condition to develop into pneumonia.

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Is an air conditioning cold a wind-heat cold?

The so-called air conditioning cold refers to a cold phenomenon caused by setting the air conditioning temperature too low, which makes patients overchilled. The clinical symptoms of such patients are mainly those of a cold caused by wind-cold, primarily characterized by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and clear watery nasal discharge, along with an itchy throat and coughing. Of course, these patients may also experience varying degrees of fever. Therefore, air conditioning-induced colds typically occur in the summer, and it is necessary to combine the patient’s clinical symptoms to determine the specific type of cold, which is generally dominated by wind-cold colds.

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Symptoms of cold include weakness in the limbs.

If you experience weakness in your limbs during a cold, it is important to consider that this may be caused by the invasion of bacteria or viruses, leading to muscle soreness and weakness. There may also be accompanying symptoms such as mild fever, chills, or fatigue. It is advised to pay attention to these signs and visit a hospital for a routine blood test to identify the cause of infection. Subsequently, take the appropriate anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications to treat and alleviate symptoms. During this period, it is crucial to rest adequately, avoid overexertion, maintain a positive mood without too much stress, avoid staying up late, and cooperate actively with medical treatment to ease symptoms. If you notice an increase in body temperature, you should use physical cooling methods or take fever-reducing medication to lower your temperature.

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How to solve the problem of nasal congestion due to a cold?

If the symptoms of nasal congestion are not too severe, you can use steaming methods, apply a hot towel, or massage acupoints, such as the temples and the Fengchi acupoint. If the cold symptoms are more severe, then some medications will be necessary. You can use medications for nasal congestion or cold medicines. If the virus invades the nasal cavity, causing congestion and swelling of the mucous membrane, and resulting inflammation, some anti-inflammatory medications can be used. Drink more warm water and eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. You can take some traditional Chinese medicine to treat the cold. If there is also fever and thick nasal discharge, some antiviral medications should be taken for treatment.

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Can scraping (gua sha) treat a cold?

Gua Sha is one of the methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating and preventing diseases. It is often performed on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, which is located on the back of the human body. The Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang is superficial and acts as the first line of defense when external pathogens invade the body. By scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, it stimulates the meridians and channels, enhances the body's immunity, and promotes the expulsion of pathogenic factors by strengthening the body’s vital energy. According to TCM, "when the vital energy is preserved within, pathogens cannot interfere." Therefore, scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang can help in treating and preventing the common cold.