How to get over a cold quickly?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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The common cold is one of the most frequent infectious diseases seen in clinical practice and is also a self-limiting illness. It is often caused by factors such as exposure to cold, staying up late, stress, and lack of sleep, which lead to decreased immunity. Consequently, viruses or the influenza virus may take advantage and infect the body, causing symptoms of the common cold. To treat a cold, one should first drink plenty of warm water and measure their temperature twice daily. The main principle of treatment is symptomatic treatment and antiviral management. One may choose to take Ribavirin or Qingkailing for antiviral treatment. If symptoms like fever and runny nose are present, one can opt for antipyretic analgesics and drugs that reduce glandular secretions. Concurrently, include more vitamin C-rich foods in the diet. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What to do when a one-year-old baby has a cold?

For treating a cold in a one-year-old baby, we mainly handle symptoms as they appear. If the baby has only occasional mild coughing or a slight fever, if they can eat and drink, and if their spirits are good, then parents don't need to worry too much, and special treatment generally isn't necessary. However, if the baby has a severe cough that affects their breathing, a fever over 38 degrees Celsius, and their spirits are not good, it is important to take the baby to the hospital for timely treatment. It's important to emphasize that parents should not arbitrarily use medications to treat the baby, as many cold medicines intended for adults should not be used for babies.

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The difference between bacterial cold and viral cold

The primary differences between bacterial colds and viral colds are as follows: Firstly, their pathogens are different. Bacterial colds are caused by bacterial infections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus, which can lead to bacterial colds. Viral colds are caused by viral infections, including rhinovirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus. Secondly, their clinical symptoms also differ. Bacterial colds may present with high fever, coughing, and purulent sputum. In contrast, viral colds rarely involve a high fever, and typically include symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, and coughing up white mucus. Thirdly, their treatment methods differ. Bacterial colds generally require anti-inflammatory medications, while viral colds are often treated with antiviral medications.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
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Can you exercise when you have a cold?

When you have a cold, it is appropriate to engage in some light exercise, such as walking or slow strolling, and avoid vigorous exercise. Vigorous exercise can easily lead to physical fatigue, decreased immunity, and the possibility of secondary bacterial infections. Additionally, intense exercise can cause the sweat pores to dilate, making it easy to catch external pathogens, leading to or exacerbating symptoms such as fever and chills. You should drink more ginger tea, rest well, avoid spicy foods, and drink plenty of water. If fever symptoms are present, physical measures to reduce the fever should be taken, or antipyretic analgesic medications should be taken orally.

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How to quickly clear a stuffy nose when you have a cold?

The common cold is a very common clinical disease, mostly caused by a decrease in immune function and viral infection. Symptoms of the common cold mainly include fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and other discomforts. When nasal congestion is caused by a cold, how can one quickly alleviate the symptoms of congestion? Generally, to relieve it in a short period of time, one can apply a hot towel to the nasal cavity or use some vasodilator drugs to improve the symptoms of nasal blockage temporarily. Therefore, clinically, to relieve such symptoms, one can appropriately use some medication or apply a hot towel to the nose. However, the fundamental solution to nasal congestion caused by a cold is to use antiviral drugs for symptomatic treatment, as this is the only way to completely cure the nasal congestion symptoms caused by the cold.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
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What are the symptoms of a cold in children?

Pediatric colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, exhibit symptoms that can be categorized into local and systemic symptoms. Local symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, discomfort in the throat, and sore throat. Systemic symptoms primarily consist of overall weakness, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and generalized aches. In infants and toddlers, local symptoms are generally not as pronounced, while systemic symptoms tend to be more severe. For some children aged six months to three years, colds accompanied by fever can also lead to febrile convulsions. In older children, local symptoms are usually more prominent, while systemic symptoms are milder. Regarding this type of acute upper respiratory infection, there are two common specific types in children: herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever.