What should a baby eat when they have a cold?

Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on November 02, 2024
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Most colds in children are caused by viral infections. During a cold, it is normal to take oral cold medications and antiviral drugs. Additionally, we should consider the specific condition of the child's cold. For simple symptoms like sneezing and a runny nose, just taking cold medications and antivirals should suffice. However, if the child has other symptoms such as gastrointestinal nausea and vomiting, it may be necessary to also use digestive aids to adjust the stomach and intestines. If the cold is accompanied by fever, with temperatures exceeding 38.5 degrees Celsius, antipyretics are also needed for treatment. Besides medication, it is important to maintain a light and reasonable diet and ensure proper rest during a cold. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Is a cold with green nasal discharge serious?

Having a cold accompanied by green purulent nasal discharge is a common and frequent symptom in otolaryngology. The cause of these symptoms is primarily fungal sinusitis caused by a fungal infection in the patient. When these symptoms occur, it is important to first complete a paranasal sinus CT, electronic nasopharyngoscope, complete blood count, and nasal secretion culture to identify the pathogen causing the patient's illness and make a clear diagnosis. Additionally, timely use of antiviral drugs and medications that clear the throat and open the nasal passages should be administered for symptomatic treatment. For patients with sinus ostium blockage and fungal sinusitis, functional endoscopic sinus surgery is also needed to open the sinus ostium, restore normal drainage between the sinus and the nasal cavity, and thus achieve a cure for the patient's condition.

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Written by Liao Bin
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Can you drink alcohol during a cold?

During a cold, one should not drink alcohol. Patients with a cold often experience nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat. Some may feel general body aches and weakness. Drinking alcohol can potentially worsen these clinical symptoms, especially since patients are prone to gastrointestinal disturbances during a cold, particularly those with a gastrointestinal type of cold who exhibit significant nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Continuing to drink alcohol can lead to a severe worsening of digestive symptoms, and even lead to watery diarrhea and symptoms of collapse. Some patients with a cold may experience a fever induced by drinking alcohol, which can worsen and prolong the illness. Sometimes, drinking alcohol can lead to secondary bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, forming a bacterial type of cold and worsening the condition. Moreover, cold patients may need to take oral medication, and drinking alcohol could exacerbate the adverse reactions of these medications. Specifically, in cases of bacterial colds where cephalosporin anti-inflammatory drugs are required, drinking alcohol can cause a disulfiram-like reaction. Therefore, it is advisable to avoid alcohol during a cold.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Does kidney deficiency make one prone to catching a cold?

Patients with kidney deficiency are prone to catching colds because kidney deficiency can lead to weakened constitution, decreased body functions, and symptoms such as general fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and reduced memory. Therefore, if kidney deficiency occurs, it is essential to treat it promptly. Usually, one can eat more foods that help supplement kidney energy, such as adzuki beans, red beans, and coix seeds, which can effectively improve symptoms. It is also necessary to strengthen physical exercise to enhance the body's resistance, or ensure adequate rest, avoid excessive fatigue, and particularly avoid staying up late to prevent worsening the symptoms.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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Can a baby swim when they have a cold?

If the baby has a cold, it is not recommended to go swimming. A cold, also known as acute upper respiratory tract infection, is the most common illness in children. It primarily manifests as inflammation of the nasal, nasopharyngeal, and pharyngeal mucosa, which can lead to rhinitis, pharyngitis, and tonsillitis, among others. The majority of colds are caused by viruses and bacteria, with 90% being viral infections. During this period, a child's resistance is generally weaker. Therefore, in such cases, it is advisable for the child to rest more, drink plenty of water, and avoid vigorous activities. Hence, it is not recommended for children to go swimming in this situation; they should rest more instead.

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What is a cold?

Colds are classified as a type of disease, and clinically, they are mainly divided into common colds and influenza. They are among the most common respiratory infectious diseases in daily life, caused by viral infections. The common cold is mainly caused by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and other viruses, while influenza is mostly caused by influenza viruses or parainfluenza viruses and other pathogens. Symptoms include drowsiness, fatigue, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. The main treatments include drinking plenty of water, antiviral therapy, and symptomatic treatment.