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

Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
Updated on November 01, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Quan Xiang Mei
Pediatrics
53sec home-news-image

Why does a child's cold not get better?

Children often have persistent colds, which in many cases are related to improper care by parents, as well as poor immune function in the children themselves. Parents fail to adjust their children's clothing based on environmental changes in a timely manner, leading to frequent colds and recurrent colds. Secondly, due to poor immune function in children, they may constantly suffer from colds. Traditional Chinese medicine methods such as massage can be used to enhance children's immunity. In daily life, appropriate increases in outdoor sports activities can also help boost immunity. Additionally, administering oral medications that enhance immune function can improve the child's own immunity, thus avoiding the persistent occurrence of colds and preventing the onset of colds.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
56sec home-news-image

How can a child recover quickly from a cold?

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
57sec home-news-image

Symptoms and treatment of wind-heat cold in children

The symptoms of wind-heat cold in children mainly include coughing, coughing up purulent sputum, yellow sputum, or having a runny nose with yellow discharge. The child's tongue coating tends to be yellow and thick. This condition is considered a wind-heat cold. It is suggested to give the child some heat-clearing and detoxifying patent Chinese medicines for treatment. The diet should be light and easy to digest, avoiding overly greasy and spicy foods. The child's diet should include more fresh vegetables and fruits. In terms of treatment, the child should drink plenty of warm water and take some heat-clearing and detoxifying patent Chinese medicines. If the condition persists for more than three days, it is recommended to perform a routine blood test. If the white blood cell count is high, it is necessary to administer antibiotics to the child.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
40sec home-news-image

Can children with a cold eat eggs?

When a child has a cold, the diet should definitely be light, offering easily digestible foods. If the baby does not have a fever, eggs can be consumed in moderate amounts as they provide a rich source of protein, phospholipids, vitamins, and other nutrients. However, if the baby has a fever, it is best to avoid giving them eggs because eggs are relatively hard to digest and rich in protein and phospholipids, which can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, a fever can affect digestive functions, which is not conducive to the baby's recovery. Therefore, it should be determined based on the situation.