How long does it take to recover from a cold and fever?

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on February 22, 2025
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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.

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Written by Qiu Xin Hui
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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The cause of colds and flu

Cold and influenza are what traditional Chinese medicine refers to as 'wind-cold common cold.' The main causes are due to a decrease in the body's resistance, exposure to cold wind, and the inability to expel it from the body promptly. This results in a series of symptoms related to the wind-cold common cold, such as nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, sore limbs, chills, and fever. At this time, active treatment should be carried out, and it is appropriate to eat more warm foods or take medicines for conditioning. At home, you can use ginger brown sugar water, drink more hot porridge, and cover with thick blankets to make the body sweat slightly, which can alleviate the symptoms.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Which department should I go to if I have a cold during pregnancy?

When pregnant and catching a cold, one should visit the gynecology department or the respiratory department for treatment. During a cold, it is advisable to drink plenty of water and rest more. Medication during pregnancy needs to be cautious to avoid arbitrary use, especially of hormones and antiviral drugs. Medication should be decided under the guidance of a doctor, based on specific symptoms, timing of pregnancy, and related examinations. Generally, it is possible to take vitamin preparations or traditional Chinese medicine aimed at symptomatic treatment. In the mid to late stages of pregnancy, there are generally more options for choosing medications compared to the early stages, where primarily vitamin supplements are selected to help restore body functions.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Can you donate blood if you have a cold?

You cannot donate blood when you have a cold, as colds are mostly caused by bacterial or viral infections, and donations are not allowed during this time. Before donating blood, a series of tests are required, and donation is not allowed when you are sick. Additionally, your immune system is generally weaker when you have a cold. Donating blood at this time could worsen the symptoms of the cold. After donating, your immunity could be even lower, making your body weaker, thus hindering the recovery from the cold. Therefore, you should not donate blood while having a cold. Wait until at least half a month after the symptoms have subsided before donating blood. Furthermore, you should eat lightly, avoiding spicy, greasy, raw, or irritating foods. Before donating blood, you should avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late to ensure you get enough sleep and boost your immunity.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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How to relieve headache from a cold during pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very special physiological period for women, during which their immune system is relatively weaker, and their choices in food can be very selective. Moreover, many medications are prohibited during pregnancy. Therefore, it is common for pregnant women to experience headaches caused by viral colds. For pregnant women experiencing headaches, physical methods can be used for treatment. For instance, massaging the "Da Zhui" and "Feng Chi" acupoints located at the back of the neck can alleviate symptoms of colds and headaches. Additionally, applying heat, such as using a warm towel on the forehead or neck, can also effectively treat headaches from colds during pregnancy without affecting the development of the fetus.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Do common colds cause vomiting?

In clinical practice, the common cold can cause significantly different symptoms in patients due to various infecting pathogens. For instance, in addition to common symptoms like fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, itchy throat, and pain, patients with a typical viral cold may also experience various degrees of gastrointestinal discomfort such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Thus, when symptoms related to the gastrointestinal tract are present during a common cold, it is necessary to consider the possibility of a gastroenteric type of cold. Therefore, it is a common occurrence for vomiting to be induced by viral infections during a common cold. Prompt administration of rehydration, antiviral treatment, and symptomatic relief can effectively alleviate the vomiting symptoms caused by the common cold.