How many days will it take for a child to recover from a cold?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 17, 2024
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How long it takes for a child to recover from a cold depends on the specific circumstances. If it's just a minor cold, like a common viral cold with symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing, the symptoms can generally be controlled within about 3 to 5 days. However, if the child's cold symptoms are more severe, including high fever, coughing, and a runny nose, it could take longer, possibly 5 to 7 days or more. This is because some colds can lead to bronchitis or even develop into pneumonia. It is difficult to specify an exact duration in such cases. For instance, bronchitis generally requires about 5 to 7 days of treatment to control the symptoms. If pneumonia is involved, the recovery might take even longer, around 7 to 10 days or up to 2 weeks. Therefore, an assessment based on the child's specific condition is needed to estimate how long it might take to recover. A typical mild cold can usually have its symptoms controlled within about 3 to 5 days.

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What to do if a child has a cold and ear pain?

Children catching a cold indicates that they have an acute upper respiratory tract infection, which is mostly caused by viral infections, while others are caused by bacteria or mycoplasma infections. If a child experiences ear pain after catching a cold, we must be highly vigilant about whether the cold has caused otitis media. It is essential to take the child to an otolaryngology clinic promptly, allowing the doctor to examine the painful ear with an otoscope. If it is confirmed that the child has otitis media, treatment should be administered based on the type of otitis media, such as serous otitis media or bacterial otitis media. With active treatment, the problem of ear pain can be quickly alleviated and cured.

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What is the matter with children feeling unwell in the stomach when they have a cold?

In Chinese medicine, common colds in children are categorized as cold-induced, heat-induced, damp-heat, and epidemic colds. Within the context of colds, complications often arise in three forms: phlegm retention, food retention, and particularly startle retention. Colds in children that result in difficulty with food retention are caused by damage due to food retention. This is because children inherently have a weak spleen that cannot hold substances well; they lack self-restraint in eating and drinking. After being affected by external pathogenic factors, the spleen fails to transport and transform food effectively, leading to stagnation in the middle burner, impeding the flow of vital energy, and causing symptoms such as abdominal distension, pain, loss of appetite, and even vomiting.

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How to determine whether a child's cold is caused by a virus or bacteria

When determining whether a child's cold is caused by a viral infection or a bacterial infection, you can take the child to the hospital for a routine blood test. In most cases, it is caused by a viral infection. Combined with the routine blood test, if there is an increase in white blood cell count and neutrophil count, it usually indicates a bacterial infection. If the white blood cell count is normal, or low, along with an increase in lymphocyte count or percentage, it usually indicates a viral infection. Alternatively, combining this with a C-reactive protein test, if the C-reactive protein level significantly multiplies, then it indicates a bacterial infection.

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How effective is Xiao'er Ganmao Ning Heji?

Xiao'er Ganmao Ning combination is a non-prescription medication with Chinese herbal ingredients, used for treating colds in children. It is primarily used for symptoms such as fever and cough. It can be administered to children experiencing nasal congestion, runny nose, coughs, and throat discomfort, and it generally has a good therapeutic effect. While taking Xiao'er Ganmao Ning, it is essential to ensure the child drinks plenty of water. Additionally, if a bacterial infection or tracheitis has developed due to the cold, treatment should be combined with other medications based on the child's specific condition. Overall, Xiao'er Ganmao Ning mixture is a viable option for treating common colds in children and can effectively achieve the intended treatment goals. (Note: The answer is for reference only. Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional physician, and blind medication should be avoided.)

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What fruits are good for children to eat when they have a cold?

During a cold, babies generally have reduced appetite. At this time, it is appropriate to supplement some fruits for the baby, which can enhance the baby's appetite, aid in digestion, and provide a significant amount of vitamin C and calories. It can also enhance the baby's resistance and immunity, promoting recovery from the illness. For example, eating more apples, pears, bananas, grapefruits, oranges, and other fruits that are rich in vitamin C and are bright in color and sweet in taste, which are favored by babies. However, during the process of feeding fruits to a baby, it is essential to adopt a method of eating small meals frequently. Try to avoid giving the baby raw, cold food and do not overfeed as it might lead to poor digestion. Furthermore, it is best not to feed the baby foods that are likely to cause allergies, as this can affect the baby's digestive absorption functions.