Is a baby more likely to catch a cold if they are deficient in zinc?

Written by Wang Lin Zhong
Pediatrics
Updated on October 28, 2024
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Babies with zinc deficiency are prone to catching colds, as zinc is an important trace element in the human body. When zinc is deficient, it significantly impacts the baby’s immune system, making them susceptible to catching colds, repeatedly suffering from respiratory infections, and experiencing a prolonged duration of illness.

Zinc plays a critical physiological role in the growth and development of the human body, regulates the development of the immune system, and is crucial for sexual maturation. Besides causing repeated respiratory infections, zinc deficiency can also lead to stunted growth and development. Zinc-deficient babies are noticeably shorter and weigh less than their peers, potentially leading to poor appetite, anorexia, and even pica, a condition where children may crave non-food items like paper, soil, or coal slag.

Zinc-deficient children are also prone to various types of dermatitis, such as mouth ulcers, glossitis, and various skin diseases. In severe cases of zinc deficiency, it can lead to delayed development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Other Voices

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How to relieve nasal congestion in children with a cold

Nasal congestion is a common symptom of a cold in children. When the congestion is severe, it can affect the child's daily life, making breathing uncomfortable and causing the child to become irritable. Therefore, it is important to address it promptly. First, ensure the child drinks plenty of water and you can apply a warm towel to the base of the nose. If there is a lot of nasal discharge, it should be cleaned out timely. You can use physiological saline to rinse the nasal cavity, thereby keeping the nasal passages clear. You can also give the child some cold medicine for children, which can completely relieve the nasal congestion. These are some specific methods on how to deal with nasal congestion during a child's cold, which you can try.

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Written by Chen Si
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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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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The difference between rhinitis and the common cold.

There are certain differences between rhinitis and the common cold, mainly in the following aspects: Firstly, it is important to know that acute rhinitis refers to the common cold, as written in medical textbooks. However, some types of rhinitis are different, such as chronic rhinitis which is a chronic disease, not an acute illness like the common cold. Allergic rhinitis also includes symptoms such as sneezing, clear nasal discharge, and nasal congestion, very similar to those of a cold, but allergic rhinitis is an allergic disease, not a viral infection like the common cold. There are also other diseases, such as atrophic rhinitis, where the nasal cavity is very wide, whereas in a cold, caused by a viral infection, the nasal passages are very narrow, and these conditions are very different. Therefore, clinically, treatment should be based on different causes, treating colds as colds and rhinitis as rhinitis.

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Written by An Yong Peng
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What should I do if I have a heavy nasal voice due to a cold?

Cold with nasal voice, in most cases, does not require special treatment. A cold can cause symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, and coughing. These symptoms can lead to a nasal voice in patients, and this condition usually does not require special treatment. If the symptoms of runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion are particularly severe and affect the patient's daily life, some compound cold medicines can be used to alleviate the symptoms, such as compound cold medicines like Ammaminamide tablets. Additionally, for a heavy nasal voice due to a cold, it is also necessary to assess the patient's condition. If the patient has a lot of purulent nasal discharge and is accompanied by headaches, it is important to be alert to the possibility of sinusitis, which also needs to be treated. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What should a pregnant woman do if she has a slight cold?

When pregnant women catch a mild cold, it is generally not recommended to take medicine for treatment. This is because some medications can have adverse effects on the growth and development of the fetus. It is advised in daily life to drink more warm water, as this can promote metabolism and eliminate some toxins from the body. It is also important to ensure sufficient sleep, avoid intense activities, maintain a pleasant mood, and fulfill the nutritional requirements of the body. It is recommended to eat fresh vegetables and fruits, and keep the diet light, avoiding spicy and stimulating foods. Also, avoid overly greasy and salty foods, and do not overwork or stay up late in daily life.