What medicine should a child take for cough and cold?

Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
Updated on September 11, 2024
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If children develop a cough due to a cold, like occasional mild coughing, slight nasal congestion, and runny nose, without obvious fever, and they maintain a good spirit and appetite, parents do not need to worry too much. Let the children rest appropriately, drink more warm water, and eat a light, easily digestible, and nutritious diet. A common viral cold generally has a certain self-healing capability. However, if the cough is more severe with noticeable phlegm, a significant decline in spirits, or if high fever occurs, it is then essential to visit a hospital promptly for doctors to treat the child based on their condition. Typically, children should not take cold medicines that are meant for adults, as these can have significant side effects on children. A usual viral cold infection tends to be self-limiting, so parents should closely monitor the progress of the illness, and seek medical attention promptly if the condition worsens.

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Can a cold in children cause encephalitis?

Colds in children can potentially lead to encephalitis, and are generally referred to as upper respiratory tract infections in children. The pathogens can be bacteria, viruses, etc., typically manifesting as fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, and more. Sometimes, gastroenteric colds can also manifest as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. Because children have relatively lower immunity, if the infecting pathogen is highly toxic and aggressive, it can potentially cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain tissue, causing encephalitis. When encephalitis occurs in children, symptoms such as fever, seizures, and coma can appear, and neurological signs may be observed upon examination.

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Can children with a cold drink mung bean soup?

If a child catches a cold, it is okay to drink some mung bean soup. The common cold is a fairly common illness in children and is generally a viral infection that tends to resolve on its own. After a child catches a cold, it is important to pay attention to a reasonable diet and auxiliary cold medicine can also be used. Mung bean soup has the effects of clearing heat, eliminating fire, and detoxifying, and it can also improve the metabolic state within the body, which is beneficial for recovering from a cold. Therefore, it is suitable to give children some mung bean soup when they have a cold.

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What to do for quick relief of nasal congestion in children with a cold?

A minor cold with nasal congestion is likely caused by a viral infection leading to swelling of the nasal mucosa, and thus, blocking the nasal passages. For quick relief, we can initially take oral medications such as children's acetaminophen-diphenhydramine granules, etc., which can promote the contraction of the nasal mucosa. Additionally, antiviral oral solutions can be taken for antiviral treatment. Locally, a 3% sodium chloride solution can be used for nasal drops to promote the contraction of the nasal mucosa, or physiological seawater nasal drops can also be used for the same purpose. Furthermore, physiological saline can be used to wash the nasal cavity, and then a nasal aspirator can be used to clean the secretions inside the nasal cavity, which also helps to clear the nasal passages.

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Is it good for children to take a bath when they have a cold?

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Which department should a child visit for a cold?

If a child has a cold and is being seen at a general hospital, it is advisable to visit the pediatrics department. However, if the child has a persistent high fever and the condition is urgent, a visit to the pediatric emergency department is recommended. If it's a children's specialty hospital, it would be advisable to visit the pediatric respiratory department, the emergency department, or the fever clinic. Generally, colds are caused by viral infections, though some are caused by bacterial infections. Most fevers can last from three to five days. Therefore, we should not be too hasty and should focus on symptomatic treatment.