How to distinguish between bacterial cold and viral cold?

Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

Updated on October 31, 2024

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Viral colds primarily affect the nasal area, with severe runny nose that is mostly clear and lacks pus-like discharge. When coughing, there is little phlegm. Symptoms of bacterial colds mainly occur in the tonsils and throat, showing redness and swelling of the throat, enlarged tonsils, and throat pain. The nasal discharge is generally thick, and the cough brings up thick phlegm. Viral colds do not show any abnormalities in routine blood tests, whereas bacterial colds often display an increase in white blood cells.

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Written by Li Jian Wu

Pulmonology

53sec

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What should I do if I have a cold with headache and fever?

When experiencing symptoms of a cold such as headache and fever, one should first measure their body temperature and adopt corresponding treatment measures based on the severity of the fever. Fever can cause headaches, fatigue, body aches, and may even lead to complications like nausea and vomiting. If the body temperature does not exceed 38℃ (100.4°F), one can take vitamin supplements, drink ginger tea, and use physical methods to reduce fever. If the body temperature is above 38℃ (100.4°F), one may consider taking antipyretic and pain-relieving medications like ibuprofen or aspirin to alleviate symptoms. Generally, once the body temperature returns to normal, headache symptoms will gradually improve or disappear. (The use of medications should be based on specific conditions and under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Hu Bai Yu

Pulmonology

56sec

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Can you eat watermelon when you have a cold?

In the case of a cold, it's appropriate to eat some watermelon, but not too much. Since watermelon is cooling in nature, eating too much may cause discomfort in the digestive system, so it should be consumed in moderation. However, during a cold, it is best to follow a doctor’s advice and take medication for treatment. If it's just a common cold with minor symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion, it should be allowed to heal on its own. It is self-limiting and will generally resolve within about seven days without intervention. This is important to remember. Also, daily life and diet should be light, avoiding spicy, greasy, and raw or stimulating foods. It's important to maintain a relaxed mood, avoid excessive stress, and actively cooperate with the doctor’s treatment.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

1min 2sec

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How to treat a child's cold and fever

Children's fever colds are relatively common in clinical practice. In response to this phenomenon, we usually recommend administering appropriate antipyretic and detoxifying medications to children. Of course, it is also necessary to identify the specific pathogens involved. If it is a viral infection, antiviral treatment should be administered promptly, followed by the appropriate use of antipyretic and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines for symptomatic treatment, which can alleviate symptoms. If a child with a fever cold exhibits severe symptoms, such as high fever, treatment should be based on the level of fever. Appropriate antipyretic medications should be used for symptomatic treatment. It is also advisable to remind caregivers to ensure the child drinks plenty of warm water to prevent dehydration that can occur after fever reduction. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Wang Chun Mei

Pulmonology

1min 9sec

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What to do when you catch a cold and cough in summer?

During summer, due to the hot weather, air conditioning is often used. If the air conditioning is set too cold, it might cause some people to catch a chill, leading to various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. For patients with such symptoms, the first step is to check if they have a fever and identify any other accompanying clinical symptoms. If the patient simply has a dry cough, it may be appropriate to use some heat-clearing and detoxifying traditional Chinese medicines. Then, depending on the nature of the cough, central cough suppressants should be used as symptomatic treatment. Generally, recovery can happen within a week under such treatment. In cases of a summer cold where the patient starts to produce phlegm in the later stages of coughing, it is then necessary to use some anti-inflammatory medicine for symptomatic treatment, as this may indicate a possible bacterial infection. (The use of medications should be done under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by Xia Min

Traditional Chinese Medicine

29sec

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Is wind-cold cold a viral cold?

Cold-induced common cold usually has milder symptoms without significant widespread characteristics. Viral colds are different; they are more severe, have a rapid onset, clear systemic symptoms, are more likely to lead to complications or conditions like pneumonia, and have broad infectivity and epidemic potential. Thus, cold-induced common colds and viral colds are not the same; they are distinct.