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Common cold
What are the symptoms of a cold?
Common symptoms after catching a cold include sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, and throat discomfort. Some people may also experience fever, fatigue, and headaches. However, some patients may not exhibit prominent nasopharyngeal symptoms and instead primarily present with fever. However, if the fever is significant, such as a high fever accompanied by chills, shivering, whole-body muscle soreness, headache, etc., the possibility of influenza should be considered, not just the common cold.
Where to apply a hot compress for a stomach cold?
Gastrointestinal flu is one of the most common types of flu, mostly caused by viral infections of the respiratory tract that lead to varying degrees of fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy throat, cough, and other symptoms. Simultaneously, clinical symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain can also occur. For such patients, we can generally adopt corresponding antiviral and heat-clearing and detoxifying treatments. If the patient experiences obvious symptoms such as abdominal pain, we can use a hot water bottle to apply to the stomach area, which can help relieve pain locally and also alleviate associated symptoms such as loss of appetite due to gastrointestinal bloating. Thus, for some patients with gastrointestinal flu, applying heat to the stomach area can be beneficial. Clinically, the treatment can be appropriately selected according to the patient's condition, but care must be taken to avoid burns during the heat application.
Symptoms of a cold in children
Children's colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, are acute inflammations of the upper respiratory tract caused by various pathogens. The primary symptoms of a child's cold are systemic symptoms, including fever, headache, general discomfort, and lack of energy. Some children may also experience a lack of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms, and even some children may have episodic pain around the navel without tenderness, possibly due to intestinal spasms caused by the cold. If there is persistent abdominal pain, it is necessary to consider whether the child has developed acute mesenteric lymphadenitis. Additionally, there are local symptoms, mainly characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and cough, which is mostly dry. There is also throat discomfort and sore throat.
Symptoms of cold and fever
Symptoms of a cold and fever can lead to an increase in body temperature, sometimes reaching 38 degrees, or even 39 degrees. In children, there might be acute high fever, even exceeding high fever levels, causing facial redness, red ears, increased heart rate, deepened and quickened breathing, leading to physical weakness, nausea, vomiting, and lack of energy. It is necessary to measure body temperature promptly and adopt corresponding fever reduction treatments based on the degree of fever and specific symptoms. For temperatures below 38 degrees, physical methods like wiping the palms and soles with warm water can be used to reduce fever. For temperatures above 38 degrees, antipyretic analgesics can be taken for symptomatic treatment.
Can a cold cause diarrhea?
Colds are generally divided into two types: bacterial infections and viral infections. Common symptoms include headaches, a runny nose, and muscle aches throughout the body. However, some patients may also experience symptoms such as ordinary diarrhea, which is medically referred to as a gastrointestinal cold. For treating a gastrointestinal cold, it is important to first determine whether it is caused by bacteria or a virus. Treatment should involve the use of anti-cold medications to target the pathogen, along with anti-diarrheal medications to alleviate the symptoms.
What should I do if I have a cold with wind-cold and vomiting?
Cold-induced vomiting is generally due to external wind-cold invasion combined with internal damp stagnation. The main clinical symptoms include chills and fever, headache, chest and diaphragmatic oppression, nausea, and vomiting. Clinically, Huoxiang Zhengqi Powder with modifications is commonly used, a formula originating from the Song Dynasty’s "Taiping Huimin Heji Ju Fang." Its main effects are to release the exterior, transform dampness, regulate qi, and harmonize the stomach. The formula primarily contains Chinese medicinal ingredients such as patchouli, costus root, perilla leaf, angelica dahurica, poria, pinellia ternata prepared with ginger, atractylodes, tangerine peel, magnolia bark, and licorice. Patchouli can expel external wind-cold and transform internal damp turbidity; Pinellia prepared with ginger and tangerine peel can regulate qi, dry dampness, harmonize the stomach, and reduce reverse flow. Atractylodes and poria can strengthen the spleen and transform dampness; Costus root and magnolia bark can move qi and transform dampness. Perilla leaf resolves external wind-heat and moves qi to stop vomiting; Angelica dahurica also has the function of drying dampness. (Medicines should be taken under the guidance of a physician according to the actual situation.)
Is the baby's cold in summer caused by wind-heat or wind-cold?
In summer, babies might have a cold due to either wind-heat or wind-cold invasion. Generally, the type of cold does not correlate directly with the season but is rather determined by the symptoms displayed by the child. Most commonly, it's wind-heat cold, caused by the invasion of wind-heat. Babies with wind-heat cold usually exhibit symptoms like fever and headache, and they might have yellow nasal discharge. Their tongues tend to appear red. Some children may experience poor appetite and constipation among other symptoms. In cases of wind-cold cold, the fever symptoms are not very prominent, and the nasal discharge is clear. The tongue coating is primarily white. Treatment involves prescribing specific Chinese herbal medicines based on the child's clinical symptoms combined with tongue and pulse diagnosis.
How to relieve stomach pain from a stomach flu?
The stomach pain caused by a gastrointestinal cold is due to stomach spasms caused by a viral infection. To treat the pain symptomatically, one can choose medications that relieve pain and relax muscles, as well as gastric mucosal protectants and drugs that inhibit stomach acid secretion. Additionally, during the treatment period, it is important to maintain regular lifestyle habits and eat a light diet. It's recommended to eat foods like noodles, rice porridge, rice soup, and vegetable soup. Avoid raw, cold, and spicy foods. If there is an increase in the frequency of bowel movements, medications that stabilize the intestines and stop diarrhea should also be considered. Moreover, pay attention to drinking plenty of water, as gastrointestinal colds can easily lead to dehydration, which should not be overlooked.
How to treat air conditioning cold
In summer, due to the high temperatures, many people use air conditioning to cool down and avoid the heat, but in some cases, this may lead to catching a cold, triggered by the cold air, which is caused by viral infections. Currently, there is no specifically effective medication to treat it. Generally, treatment involves symptom-relief medications, such as antipyretic analgesics, compound cold medicines, and various traditional Chinese medicines. Besides medication, it is important to rest, avoid getting chilled, drink plenty of water, quit smoking, and ensure room ventilation to aid the recovery from a cold. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)
What should I do if I have a stomach flu and feel nauseous?
Gastroenteritis is caused by an infection of the Coxsackie virus. If symptoms of nausea are present, it is advisable to use antiemetic and antispasmodic medications, as well as antiviral medications for colds. Be mindful of weather changes, drink plenty of water, and maintain a light diet with soft, easy-to-digest foods during treatment. Avoid raw, spicy, and irritating foods. Combine work with rest to avoid excessive fatigue, and pay attention to emotional changes to avoid excessive anxiety and tension.