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Pediatric common cold
How to treat phlegm in children with colds
When children have a cold with phlegm, the treatment includes: 1. Administering antiviral drugs or other appropriate medications based on the cause of the cold; 2. Providing specific oral cold medicines for treatment; 3. If there is a lot of phlegm, oral medications to reduce phlegm can be used in combination with other treatments. When there is less phlegm, parents can encourage the child to drink more water, frequently hydrate, and assist with patting the back, which helps to moisten and expel the phlegm. For excessive phlegm, nebulization inhalation treatments can also be used, where the medication acts directly on the respiratory tract, helping with the absorption of respiratory tract phlegm. In severe cases, if there is a lot of phlegm with coughing discomfort or a severe cough, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital for detailed laboratory tests. Based on the specific pathogen causing the excessive phlegm and cold, targeted treatment should be given under the guidance of a doctor.
Is it good for children to take a bath when they have a cold?
When a child has a cold and the symptoms are mild, the child is in good condition, not experiencing high fever, and has no shivering, then it is acceptable for the child to take a bath. Bathing poses no problem and can even help reduce mild fever. However, if the child has a high fever, shivering, physical weakness, discomfort, or symptoms such as rashes, it is advisable not to bathe the child. Bathing a child who is shivering can sometimes lead to higher fevers, convulsions, or seizures. Therefore, whether or not a child can bathe should be determined based on their specific condition.
Can children with a cold eat fish and shrimp?
Children should avoid consuming fish and shrimp during a cold, as these foods are considered stimulating. Children's immune functions are relatively weaker during a cold, leading to symptoms like fever and gastrointestinal discomfort. First, eating fish and shrimp can hinder digestion and absorption in the stomach and intestines, further burdening the gastrointestinal tract during a cold. Furthermore, fish and shrimp are particularly likely to trigger allergic reactions in children, which can occur even under normal circumstances, leading to hives or inducing respiratory difficulties among other allergic responses. Therefore, consuming these foods during a cold could worsen the symptoms and possibly trigger an allergic reaction, which is detrimental to a child's health. It is recommended to focus on a light, easily digestible liquid diet during illness.
Pediatric colds are classified into several types.
Child colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, are acute inflammations of the upper respiratory tract caused by various pathogens. Child colds are mainly caused by bacterial and viral infections, with over 90% being viral. The main viruses involved include rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, Coxsackie virus, echovirus, adenovirus, and coronaviruses. Viral infections can lead to secondary bacterial infections, with the most common bacterial infections being from Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Haemophilus influenzae. Additionally, Mycoplasma pneumoniae not only can cause pneumonia but is also a cause of upper respiratory infections, and its incidence has been increasing in recent years. Therefore, when a child has a cold, it's also important to consider the possibility of a Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Why do children have stomachaches when they catch a cold?
Colds are usually caused by viral infections, and may be accompanied by swelling of the lymph nodes. Abdominal pain caused by colds in children is often considered to be mesenteric lymphadenitis. This means that the virus causing the cold leads to the swelling of the lymph nodes around the intestines, which in turn can cause abdominal pain. There are generally two ways to alleviate this condition. One is to use oral pain relief medications, where children typically use traditional Chinese medicine orally, and do not take Western medicine, such as Yuanhu Zhitong Drops. Another method is to apply heat. At the same time, it is essential to ensure that the gastrointestinal tract is functioning well during a cold. Gastrointestinal dysfunction during a cold can also cause abdominal pain. Therefore, the diet should consist of warm, liquid, and easily digestible foods. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Symptoms and treatment of wind-heat cold in children
The symptoms of wind-heat cold in children mainly include coughing, coughing up purulent sputum, yellow sputum, or having a runny nose with yellow discharge. The child's tongue coating tends to be yellow and thick. This condition is considered a wind-heat cold. It is suggested to give the child some heat-clearing and detoxifying patent Chinese medicines for treatment. The diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding overly greasy and spicy foods. The child's diet should include more fresh vegetables and fruits. In terms of treatment, the child should drink plenty of warm water and take some heat-clearing and detoxifying patent Chinese medicines. If the condition persists for more than three days, it is recommended to perform a routine blood test. If the white blood cell count is high, it is necessary to administer antibiotics to the child.
Is rectal administration good for children with colds?
Rectal administration of medicine is not a treatment method used in formal hospitals; it is typically used for sedation or certain gastrointestinal disorders, requiring enema treatment. In some smaller clinics, enemas and rectal administration of medication might be used to treat children's fever and colds, which is an irregular treatment method and is best avoided. This may cause damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and lead to disorders such as diarrhea. Therefore, formal hospitals do not recommend using rectal administration to treat common issues like children's colds and fevers. Moreover, this method could potentially lead to side effects from the medication, affecting body functions.
Why do children with colds have a lot of eye discharge?
Increased eye discharge in children with colds is primarily due to congestion and swelling of the nasal mucosa during a cold, which blocks the nasolacrimal duct. At the same time, pathogenic microorganisms from the nasal cavity can enter the eyes through the nasolacrimal duct, causing conjunctivitis, which leads to increased eye discharge. Therefore, when a child shows symptoms of a cold, it is important to maintain cleanliness and hygiene of the eyes. If nasal congestion is severe, medication should be administered under the guidance of a doctor to reduce the chance of developing conjunctivitis. If there is excessive eye discharge, eye drops can be used locally to alleviate the symptoms.
Symptoms of a cold in children
Children's cold, also known as acute upper respiratory tract infection in children, is the most common disease among children. It mainly refers to the inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, nasopharynx, and pharynx, leading to acute rhinitis, acute pharyngitis, and acute tonsillitis, collectively referred to as such. After catching a cold, children can exhibit local symptoms, primarily manifesting as nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild cough, discomfort in the throat, or sore throat. Systemic symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, body aches, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, which often appears as spasmodic periumbilical pain without tenderness. In infants and young children, local symptoms are not severe, but systemic symptoms are more significant. A general physical examination can reveal congestion in the throat, swelling of the tonsils, and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the jaw and neck area.
What to do if a child has a cold and ear pain?
Children catching a cold indicates that they have an acute upper respiratory tract infection, which is mostly caused by viral infections, while others are caused by bacteria or mycoplasma infections. If a child experiences ear pain after catching a cold, we must be highly vigilant about whether the cold has caused otitis media. It is essential to take the child to an otolaryngology clinic promptly, allowing the doctor to examine the painful ear with an otoscope. If it is confirmed that the child has otitis media, treatment should be administered based on the type of otitis media, such as serous otitis media or bacterial otitis media. With active treatment, the problem of ear pain can be quickly alleviated and cured.