What should babies not eat when they have a cold?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on May 15, 2025
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When a baby has a cold, symptoms can include fever, coughing, a runny nose, and sneezing. Some may also experience vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Thus, a cold can lead to a decrease in digestive function and loss of appetite. Regarding diet, it is important to provide light, easily digestible foods. If the baby is breastfed, the mother should also consume light and easily digestible foods; if the baby is formula-fed, the formula should be diluted. It's appropriate to add some supplementary foods such as vegetables and fruits. Meanwhile, spicy, stimulating, greasy, and hard-to-digest foods should be temporarily avoided during this period.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 9sec home-news-image

How to alleviate the symptoms of a cold?

Cold refers to the condition where the upper respiratory tract is infected by various pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, and chlamydia, leading to symptoms primarily in the upper respiratory tract, which is called a cold. Generally, the symptoms of a cold mainly include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, chills, fever, cough, and painful throat. In addition, there may be symptoms like chest tightness and shortness of breath. As it stands, the symptoms of a cold are self-limiting, meaning they can generally improve within seven to ten days without medical treatment. During a cold, due to frequent symptoms and impact on daily life, it is possible to treat with common cold medicines. Currently, Western medicines available on the market can treat cold symptoms. Furthermore, drinking some brown sugar ginger tea to induce sweating can also provide relief. (Please use medication rationally under the guidance of a professional doctor, and do not use medication blindly.)

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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What should a pregnant woman eat when she has a cold?

During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman accidentally catches a cold, she can use some dietary therapy methods to recuperate. She can drink some ginger tea with sugar, which can alleviate headaches, nasal congestion, runny nose, and joint pains caused by the cold. Additionally, she can drink honey, which contains various bioactive substances that can stimulate the body's immune function and have a beneficial effect on the body's recovery from a cold. Furthermore, she can eat radishes, which are rich in nutrients and trace elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc, to enhance the body's resistance and speed up the recovery from the cold.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of gastroenteritis

Generally, in cases of gastrointestinal-type colds, in addition to some common cold symptoms, there are also symptoms related to the digestive system. These include a decreased appetite, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even constipation. There is also discomfort in the stomach and intestines, along with symptoms of indigestion. It is important to be aware of gastrointestinal colds which, apart from symptoms like nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, and coughing up phlegm, also involve gastrointestinal symptoms. In addition to taking cold medicines, it is necessary to use medications that regulate the gastrointestinal tract to treat and alleviate these symptoms. It is advisable to eat smaller meals more frequently, not consuming too much at once to avoid overburdening the digestive tract and causing indigestion.

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Can you drink tea when you have a cold?

It is not recommended to drink tea when having a cold; it is advised that patients drink more plain water instead. Patients also need to maintain a light diet and eat some fruits, and it’s recommended to avoid both tea and carbonated beverages, as well as alcohol. For conditions like the common cold, it is important to avoid staying up late and overexerting oneself. The common cold is usually self-limiting, meaning it will typically resolve on its own as the patient's immune system fights off the illness. However, if the symptoms of a cold are severe, it may be necessary to take medication for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to note that while the common cold is usually self-limiting and does not often lead to serious consequences, complications can sometimes arise. For example, it could lead to acute sinusitis or bacterial pneumonia. If a cold sufferer's symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for proper treatment.

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Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of a cold in children?

Pediatric colds, also known as acute upper respiratory infections, exhibit symptoms that can be categorized into local and systemic symptoms. Local symptoms include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, mild coughing, discomfort in the throat, and sore throat. Systemic symptoms primarily consist of overall weakness, fever, reduced appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and generalized aches. In infants and toddlers, local symptoms are generally not as pronounced, while systemic symptoms tend to be more severe. For some children aged six months to three years, colds accompanied by fever can also lead to febrile convulsions. In older children, local symptoms are usually more prominent, while systemic symptoms are milder. Regarding this type of acute upper respiratory infection, there are two common specific types in children: herpangina and pharyngoconjunctival fever.