How to care for a baby with a cold in the summer

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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If a baby catches a cold in the summer, it is essential to take care of them by avoiding cross-infection. Additionally, pay attention to how the baby is dressed. If someone in the house has a cold, they should minimize contact with the baby and avoid sneezing, coughing, or kissing the baby to prevent cross-infection. Dressing the baby should be moderate during a summer cold; it's not about wearing more layers. The clothing should make sure the baby’s neck or chest and abdomen are warm without causing sweating. Keep the baby away from crowded places and, if possible, have them stay at home. If air conditioning is used, ensure to ventilate the room by opening windows 1-2 times a day, and keep the baby away from direct drafts. If the baby experiences nasal congestion or tends to choke while feeding due to the cold, it is crucial to avoid lying them down flat immediately after feeding. Instead, hold the baby upright or slightly elevate their head to prevent choking and worsening of the condition.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to quickly alleviate the discomfort of a cold?

In treating a cold, it is important to select symptomatic medications. If symptoms such as discomfort, body ache, or fatigue are caused by a fever, appropriate fever-reducing measures should be taken based on the severity of the fever. If the body temperature does not exceed 38°C, physical cooling methods such as wiping the palms, soles, neck, and chest with warm water can be used. If the fever is high, antipyretic analgesic medications should be chosen. In addition, symptomatic treatment with vitamin supplements and medications that suppress gland secretion can help alleviate discomfort.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Can you eat durian when you have a cold?

Wind-heat colds are not recommended for consumption. Traditional Chinese Medicine classifies colds into wind-heat colds and wind-cold colds based on the different external pathogenic factors patients experience. Wind-heat colds are primarily caused by exposure to external heat pathogens. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms including dry mouth, thirst, sweating, and coughing up phlegm, typically presenting with yellow phlegm. Durian is a food that tends to be warming; thus, consuming durian during a wind-heat cold could potentially worsen the condition or prolong the duration of the illness. Therefore, if the patient's symptoms match those described above for wind-heat colds, it is generally not recommended to eat durian. Of course, if the symptoms mentioned above are not present, eating durian is not a problem. Durian is a very nutritious food that can also aid in digestion. It is quite a good fruit.

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Written by Zhang Ying Ying
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can you take medicine for wind-heat cold when you have a wind-cold cold?

The main symptoms of a cold caused by wind-cold are a significant chill and heavy feeling, mild fever, absence of sweating, headache, sore limbs, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing up white, thin phlegm. The primary treatment method is to disperse wind-cold using pungent and warm herbs. For treating a cold caused by wind-heat, one should use cooling herbs to disperse wind-heat. Therefore, the medicines for wind-heat cold should not be consumed during a wind-cold cold, as their treatment methods are completely contrary and would only worsen the symptoms.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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How to deal with chronic colds?

Colds, generally speaking, are not serious illnesses. However, if one suffers from frequent colds with recurring symptoms, it can significantly affect the patient and severely impact their quality of life. So, what should be done? Typically, if one frequently catches colds, it indicates that the patient's immune system is relatively weak. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly exercise, engage in physical activities, and spend time outdoors to boost immunity and enhance the body's adaptability. Additionally, with seasonal changes, it is important to change clothing promptly to avoid getting cold. Regular rest and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are crucial; avoid smoking and drinking. During the cold season, it's wise to drink more water, ensure rooms are well-ventilated, and avoid crowded places as much as possible to specifically prevent catching a cold.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How long does it take to recover from a cold and fever?

If medication is not used, the general course of the illness is about three to seven days. With medical intervention, recovery can generally be achieved in one to three days. If the fever exceeds 38.5°C, it is advisable to take measures to reduce fever to prevent complications such as febrile convulsions. Physical methods can be used to reduce fever. Fever can also be treated with oral antipyretics. During the treatment period, it is advisable to eat light meals, avoid staying up late, and avoid consuming large portions of meat and fish.