Do you need to take medicine for a cold with nasal congestion?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on November 13, 2024
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Nasal congestion due to a cold is very common in clinical practice. The need for medication depends on the type of cold and the patient's own immune function. If the patient has a cold caused by a viral infection and the symptoms are not severe, or if the patient generally likes to exercise and is young, a mild cold may not require medication and can heal on its own within about a week. For children or elderly individuals with weaker resistance, when an upper respiratory infection occurs, it is advisable to administer some medication for symptomatic treatment to prevent the condition from worsening and to avoid unnecessary complications.

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What should I do about a seasonal cold?

Colds caused by seasonal changes should be treated symptomatically, often due to fluctuations in temperature differences leading to decreased immune function and colds caused by chilling. It is recommended to drink more ginger sugar water and measure body temperature. Drinking ginger sugar water can warm the body and disperse cold, as well as promote metabolism. If there are symptoms of fever, physical methods to reduce fever should be adopted, or antipyretic medications can be taken orally. Firstly, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the indoor air, avoid eating irritating or spicy foods, measure body temperature twice daily, and possibly combine with antiviral medications for etiological treatment.

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Can you eat mutton if you have a cold caused by wind-heat?

Wind-heat cold is a common clinical condition, its clinical manifestations include fever, slight aversion to wind, inhibited sweating, severe headache, cough, sticky or yellow phlegm, sore throat, thin white slightly yellow tongue coating, red tongue tip and sides, and a floating and rapid pulse. It is mainly caused by the evil of wind-heat. Generally, medicines that release the exterior with pungent and warm properties are used for treatment, and mutton is considered a strongly pungent and hot substance, used for nourishing kidney yang. Therefore, it is not suitable for patients with wind-heat cold to eat mutton.

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Symptoms of a cold in children

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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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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Can a cold cause vomiting?

The common cold is caused by a viral infection, often causing symptoms in the nasopharyngeal area, such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, headaches, and so on. So, can a cold cause vomiting? Yes, a cold can cause vomiting. The symptoms mentioned earlier are typical of a cold. Some people may experience gastrointestinal symptoms during a cold, often referred to as a "stomach cold," which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, sometimes cold sufferers may experience vomiting.