Will a cold with nasal congestion get better on its own?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on October 20, 2024
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Cold, also known as upper respiratory tract infection, manifests clinically in patients with varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. It's important first to identify the upper respiratory tract infection, which is mainly caused by a viral infection that leads to symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and sometimes a sore throat. For viral infections causing inflammatory lesions in the respiratory tract, in cases where the patient's immune function is strong, the symptoms of nasal congestion caused by the viral cold can resolve on their own. However, in infants or elderly people with lower immune function, when a viral cold occurs, symptomatic treatment with antiviral drugs can lead to a quicker recovery.

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What are wind-cold common cold and wind-heat common cold?

Wind-cold colds are primarily caused by exposure to wind and cold air, typically presenting symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, or coughing up white phlegm. Wind-heat colds, on the other hand, are caused by heat and typically manifest symptoms like headaches, fever, coughing up yellow phlegm, and sore, swollen throat. It is advisable to differentiate between these two types of colds. Both wind-cold and wind-heat colds require treatment under a doctor's guidance, using appropriate anti-cold medicine. For wind-cold colds, anti-inflammatory medicines can be used. For wind-heat colds, medicines that clear heat, detoxify, and reduce inflammation can be employed to alleviate symptoms. Regular physical exercise, which strengthens the constitution and enhances resistance, is recommended to help alleviate symptoms of a cold and facilitate recovery.

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What should I do if I have a cold and my ears are itchy?

Having a cold accompanied by itchy ears may be due to congestion of varying degrees in the nasal mucosa and the middle ear canal following an upper respiratory tract infection. This condition can worsen when the patient blows their nose or if there is a concurrent bacterial infection, sometimes even leading to otitis media. Therefore, in such cases, patients might experience varying degrees of discharge and itching in the ear canal. It is crucial first to identify the specific pathogen causing the cold and treat it with the appropriate anti-infection or antiviral medications. Once the inflammation is effectively controlled, the symptoms of itchy ears can also be alleviated promptly and effectively.

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What to do if you have a cold and inflammation during pregnancy?

If you have inflammation symptoms with a cold, it's likely due to bacterial or viral infection causing the inflammation. It's advisable to take anti-inflammatory and anti-infection medications under a doctor's guidance. Before taking any medication, it's best to get a routine blood test to identify the cause of infection and then use the appropriate medications. During pregnancy, the situation is quite special, and it's recommended not to take medications blindly as it may worsen the situation. Therefore, it's important to treat the symptoms accurately. You should also ensure to drink plenty of water, rest adequately, avoid staying up late, and ensure sufficient sleep to boost your immune system. Additionally, if the condition is serious, it's best to be hospitalized for observation and active symptomatic treatment.

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Sore throat without cold symptoms

Sore throat is a relatively common clinical symptom, with many causes. If the duration is short, it could be due to acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, or acute epiglottitis. If the condition lasts longer or recurs frequently, it may be caused by chronic pharyngitis or chronic tonsillitis. Therefore, after the onset, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology department for diagnosis, where a laryngoscope examination and routine blood tests can be performed to clarify the specific cause, before targeted treatment can be administered. Regular follow-ups are also needed to monitor the treatment effects.

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How to regulate a child who often catches a cold?

Children often catch colds due to poor immunity. To improve this situation, it is necessary to enhance their physique. Along with increasing outdoor physical exercises, it is also crucial to ensure sufficient sleep to support normal physical development and boost metabolism. Nutritionally, it's important to maintain a balanced diet, ensuring the intake of high-quality proteins like fish, shrimp, eggs, and milk weekly, and consuming plenty of vegetables and fruits. Additionally, supplementing with trace elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc may be appropriate. In severe cases, oral medications to boost immunity can be taken, but this is not a permanent solution.