Types and Symptoms of Common Cold

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on November 03, 2024
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From the perspective of Western medicine, there are primarily two types of colds: the common cold and influenza. The symptoms of the common cold are different and mainly include nasal congestion, runny nose, dry and sore throat, tearing, sneezing, and other symptoms. In contrast, influenza mainly manifests as weakness in the limbs, muscle soreness, and some may experience fixed joint swelling and pain. It can also cause complications such as nausea and vomiting, mainly due to infections caused by different pathogens, thus the symptoms vary.

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How to treat a cold during pregnancy

If you have symptoms of a cold while pregnant, it is advised not to self-medicate blindly. Always consult a physician and use medications that are relatively safer to treat the condition so as to prevent any potential impact on the fetus. This is particularly important during the first three months of pregnancy when the baby's development is still not complete, and indiscriminate use of some medications could possibly cause developmental abnormalities in the baby. It is suggested that everyone should distinguish the type of cold they are experiencing, and then treat and alleviate symptoms through dietary therapy. For instance, for a cold caused by exposure to wind and chill, one might drink some brown sugar ginger tea or have a warm foot bath, both of which can expel the cold from the body, promote blood circulation, and relieve cold symptoms. If it's a cold caused by wind-heat, drinking herbal teas that clear heat and detoxify can be beneficial in alleviating the condition.

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How to treat a baby's cold fever

Children's heat colds generally occur in the summer when the weather is hot, and the following methods can be used to manage it: First, give the child an appropriate amount of warm water to drink. When a child catches a cold, they will consume too much water from their body. At this time, replenishing water can improve the child's symptoms. Second, take some antipyretic and heat-clearing drugs. These drugs are effective in alleviating symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, and cough caused by heat colds. Third, if the child develops throat inflammation, nasal congestion, and yellow nasal discharge after catching a cold, this might be a bacterial infection. Cephalosporin antibiotics can be used, but it is best to take the child to the hospital for tests like a complete blood count and other examinations. Only after confirming the indications for antibiotic use should antibiotic treatment be administered.

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Are common colds afraid of the cold?

The common cold is a very prevalent clinical disease that falls under the category of respiratory internal medicine. Generally, patients with this type of cold exhibit varying degrees of fever, headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. Additionally, some patients may also experience symptoms like coughing and an itchy throat. Since the common cold is mostly caused by viral infections in clinical settings, the presence of a fever of varying degrees can lead to chills. Therefore, it is very common for patients to exhibit symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, and chills. Clinically, as long as the specific type of pathogen causing the common cold is identified, timely and effective symptomatic treatment can generally control the symptoms of chills caused by the common cold effectively.

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What should I do about nasal congestion from a summer cold?

There is currently no specific effective medication for colds. If the symptoms are mild, no special treatment is required, and they will improve on their own in a few days. However, if nasal congestion is severe, one option is to use compound cold medicine, or directly use drugs that can constrict the blood vessels in the nasal mucosa, such as certain drops, to alleviate the symptoms of nasal congestion. If nasal congestion is caused by excessive nasal discharge, then the nasal discharge should be cleaned promptly to relieve the symptoms.

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Does kidney deficiency make one prone to catching a cold?

Patients with kidney deficiency are prone to catching colds because kidney deficiency can lead to weakened constitution, decreased body functions, and symptoms such as general fatigue, dizziness, vertigo, hearing loss, tinnitus, and reduced memory. Therefore, if kidney deficiency occurs, it is essential to treat it promptly. Usually, one can eat more foods that help supplement kidney energy, such as adzuki beans, red beans, and coix seeds, which can effectively improve symptoms. It is also necessary to strengthen physical exercise to enhance the body's resistance, or ensure adequate rest, avoid excessive fatigue, and particularly avoid staying up late to prevent worsening the symptoms.