What to do if a child has a cold with external cold and internal heat?

Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on June 21, 2025
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The main symptoms of external cold in children with a cold include sneezing, clear nasal discharge, nasal congestion, chills, and no sweating. Symptoms of internal heat include a red face, thirst, dry stools, and yellow-red urine. These are the symptoms of external cold and internal heat. Currently, the treatment mainly involves Chinese medicine, using Chinese herbs that disperse cold and clear heat, primarily combining herbs that dispel exterior cold with those that clear internal heat. Commonly used herbs for dispelling exterior cold include Jing Fang Bai Du San, supplemented with herbs like gypsum and astragalus for treatment. (Please follow medical advice for specific medications.)

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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.

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What to do if a child has a cold with nausea and vomiting?

Childhood colds refer to a general term for upper respiratory infections in children, including wind-cold colds, wind-heat colds, acute pharyngitis, acute tonsillitis, and more. They are caused by infections from various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, etc., and symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, etc. When children experience a cold accompanied by nausea and vomiting symptoms, it is referred to as a gastroenteric type of cold, and treatments can include antiemetics and adjustments to gastrointestinal function. However, it is also important to consider whether there are surgical conditions. If the child exhibits abdominal distension, poor mental state, or frequent vomiting, it is advisable to go to the hospital for examinations such as X-rays to rule out symptoms like intestinal obstruction.

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What to do if a child has a cold and is short of breath?

There are two common causes of shortness of breath in children with colds, and the corresponding treatments are as follows: First, shortness of breath in children with colds is mainly due to respiratory obstruction caused by cold symptoms, leading to blockages in the nasal mucosa. This can easily lead to breathing difficulties, so shortness of breath occurs. We can use warm, damp towels or drop vitamin AD drops into the nasal cavity, among other methods. A warm, damp towel can be placed near the nasal cavity, and the principle of water vapor evaporation can effectively alleviate the blockage of the nasal mucosa. Dropping vitamin AD drops into the nasal cavity can also effectively moisten and lubricate the nasal mucosa, relieving nasal blockages and thus improving symptoms of shortness of breath from a cold. The second cause of shortness of breath from a cold is due to myocarditis or cardiac damage following a viral cold. For mild cases, oral medications that nourish the heart muscle should be administered for treatment, and children must ensure they rest and avoid strenuous activity. For severe cases, intravenous infusions and medications that nourish the heart muscle are needed for treatment. (Please follow medical advice when using medications.)

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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.

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

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.