What to do if a child catches a cold and loses appetite?

Written by Zeng Hai Jiang
Pediatrics
Updated on May 17, 2025
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When children catch a cold, bacteria or viruses may invade the gastrointestinal tract, affecting its function and causing a loss of appetite. Therefore, when children show symptoms of a cold, in addition to fever, runny nose, and cough, they may also experience poor appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, and even vomiting and diarrhea. When a child has a loss of appetite due to a cold, in addition to treating the symptoms with cold medicine, we can also provide a light diet, encourage more water intake, and give easily digestible, vitamin-rich foods. Additionally, administering Chinese herbal medicine to strengthen the spleen and stomach can be beneficial.

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Is rectal administration good for children with colds?

Rectal administration of medicine is not a treatment method used in formal hospitals; it is typically used for sedation or certain gastrointestinal disorders, requiring enema treatment. In some smaller clinics, enemas and rectal administration of medication might be used to treat children's fever and colds, which is an irregular treatment method and is best avoided. This may cause damage to the gastrointestinal mucosa and lead to disorders such as diarrhea. Therefore, formal hospitals do not recommend using rectal administration to treat common issues like children's colds and fevers. Moreover, this method could potentially lead to side effects from the medication, affecting body functions.

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What to do about nasal congestion in children after a cold?

After a child catches a cold and exhibits symptoms of nasal congestion, antihistamine medication can be taken orally under the guidance of a doctor to relieve nasal congestion. Local use of nasal drops or saline solution, or the use of nasal spray locally can also relieve symptoms of nasal congestion. When a child has a cold causing nasal congestion, it is mostly because the nasal mucosa becomes congested and swollen after the cold, leading to the symptoms of nasal congestion. Some children may develop symptoms of allergic rhinitis after a cold. In addition to nasal congestion, most children may also experience symptoms such as a runny nose and sneezing.

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Is it good for children to sweat while sleeping when they have a cold?

If a child sweats while sleeping during a cold, it is generally not a cause for concern. First, children usually do not have a fever when they sweat during sleep at night. Therefore, when there is a fever, sweating usually does not occur. Parents only need to pay attention to promptly changing sweat-dampened clothes and avoiding getting chilled after sweating. The second situation of sweating during a cold in children may indicate that the body has become relatively weak, or that the cold has led to phenomena such as calcium deficiency or an exacerbation of insufficient vitamin D in daily life. In such cases, where night sweating occurs, parents should promptly provide appropriate supplements of trace elements like calcium and vitamin D based on the child’s symptoms. They should also ensure a balanced and reasonable diet and sufficient sleep to aid the recovery from the illness.

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What are the symptoms of viral colds in children?

Symptoms of viral cold in children include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, cough with phlegm, fever, headache, body aches, and sore throat. When having a cold, it is important to rest first, avoid strenuous exercise, and allow the body to focus its resources on the functioning of the immune system. It is also important to drink plenty of water, as all immune mechanisms rely on sufficient water. Drinking more water leads to more urination, which increases the excretion of water-soluble vitamins, so it is necessary to adequately supplement water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin B. Fruits and vegetables are preferred. Additionally, symptomatic medication treatment should be applied.

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

When a child has a cold and the symptoms are mild, the child is in good condition, not experiencing high fever, and has no shivering, then it is acceptable for the child to take a bath. Bathing poses no problem and can even help reduce mild fever. However, if the child has a high fever, shivering, physical weakness, discomfort, or symptoms such as rashes, it is advisable not to bathe the child. Bathing a child who is shivering can sometimes lead to higher fevers, convulsions, or seizures. Therefore, whether or not a child can bathe should be determined based on their specific condition.