How can a child recover quickly from a cold?

Written by Yao Li Qin

Pediatrics

Updated on June 12, 2025

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Children's colds are mostly viral infections, and viral infections can heal themselves. Therefore, when a child catches a cold, we should first let the child rest plenty, drink lots of water, and ensure they get enough sleep. If the child has noticeable cold symptoms, you can give them cold granules for symptomatic treatment of the cold. Also, maintain indoor air humidity, and keep the home temperature appropriate, generally between 18-23℃, with about 60% humidity. Under these conditions, a child's cold can recover quickly. Do not let children in contact with adults who have a cold during their cold period, do not let children play outside, and certainly do not allow children to engage in strenuous activities. (Please follow your doctor's medical advice regarding medicines.)

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Written by Zeng Hai Jiang

Pediatrics

41sec

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Will children with colds have recurrent low-grade fever?

Children with a cold may experience recurrent low fevers. In children, colds are generally caused by viral infections, such as rhinoviruses, common coronaviruses, etc. The symptoms include fever, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, sore throat, etc., and the duration of the illness is mostly three to five days, usually not exceeding a week. Therefore, during the course of the illness, the symptoms of a cold may recur. During the illness, fever-reducing measures are taken, such as physical cooling and medication. However, after the fever subsides, it may recur, which is a normal phenomenon.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

1min 14sec

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Do children with colds need to take cephalosporins?

Pediatric colds can be divided into viral colds and bacterial infections that cause upper respiratory tract symptoms. Generally speaking, 90% of cases are commonly viral colds. Viral colds are mainly treated symptomatically. Appropriate antiviral medications can be used, and antipyretics can be given during fevers. Also, drinking plenty of warm water and using some Chinese patent medicines for clearing heat and detoxifying can be sufficient. However, if the viral infection lasts a long time, it can easily lead to a secondary bacterial infection. In such cases, antibiotics can be used. Initially, oral penicillin antibiotics should be chosen, and cephalosporin antibiotics can also be selected for anti-infection treatment. If considering bacterial infection causing upper respiratory tract infection, such as acute tonsillitis caused by streptococcus infection, oral penicillin or cephalosporin antibiotics for anti-infection treatment can be used. Therefore, it is essential to choose medications based on the specific situation. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

49sec

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Do children with colds need to take cephalosporins?

Common colds in children are generally divided into bacterial colds and viral colds, with the majority being viral colds. For viral colds, it is mainly important to monitor body temperature and mental state, among other conditions. If there is a high fever, fever-reducing measures should be taken, and some antipyretic and detoxifying medications may be administered. If a bacterial cold is considered, such as acute tonsillitis caused by streptococcal infection, the use of sensitive antibiotics, such as cefaclor or cefixime, should be added to the treatment. Therefore, not all colds require cefaclor, but if the upper respiratory infection is caused by bacterial infection, cefaclor-type medications are needed for treatment. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Quan Xiang Mei

Pediatrics

55sec

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Can children with a cold eat fish and shrimp?

Children should avoid consuming fish and shrimp during a cold, as these foods are considered stimulating. Children's immune functions are relatively weaker during a cold, leading to symptoms like fever and gastrointestinal discomfort. First, eating fish and shrimp can hinder digestion and absorption in the stomach and intestines, further burdening the gastrointestinal tract during a cold. Furthermore, fish and shrimp are particularly likely to trigger allergic reactions in children, which can occur even under normal circumstances, leading to hives or inducing respiratory difficulties among other allergic responses. Therefore, consuming these foods during a cold could worsen the symptoms and possibly trigger an allergic reaction, which is detrimental to a child's health. It is recommended to focus on a light, easily digestible liquid diet during illness.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang

Pediatrics

53sec

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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.