Is a cold with fever easily contagious?

Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
Updated on May 27, 2025
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Cold and fever, will it be contagious? It is important to identify the cause in such cases. If it is caused by bacteria or other microbial infections, it generally has no contagiousness. However, if the cold is due to an influenza virus infection, there is a certain level of contagiousness. Therefore, it is not possible to generalize whether colds and fevers are easily contagious. It is advised that everyone should go to the hospital for a check-up to determine the cause of the cold and then treat it accordingly. If the cold is caused by a virus or the influenza virus, it is contagious. If it is caused by some bacteria or other microbial infection, it is not contagious. It is also advised that everyone should follow the doctor's guidance and take the corresponding anti-infection medication for treatment and to relieve symptoms. Eat light meals, drink plenty of water, promote excretion, and enhance resistance.

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How to relieve cold, nasal congestion, and chest tightness?

Patients like those with a common cold are often seen in populations with weakened immune systems. They may develop various symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing due to carelessness in exposure to cold, and infection by viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens. Additionally, if patients already suffer from bronchial asthma, infections by viruses or bacteria can trigger an asthma attack at any time. Therefore, when such patients experience symptoms like nasal congestion and runny nose, they may also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. To alleviate these symptoms, it is important first to identify the causative factor of the chest tightness and shortness of breath. If it is due to a cold leading to an episode of chronic bronchitis, then the chest tightness and shortness of breath can be managed by timely administering anti-infective, cough-suppressing, expectorant, and antiviral medications. Once the symptoms of the upper respiratory tract infection are effectively controlled, medications that relieve bronchospasm can be appropriately used to ease the condition.

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What to eat for a child with a cold?

If a child's cold is considered to be caused by a viral infection, it is important to monitor the baby's temperature and mental response, among other factors. If the child does not have a fever, or only has a low fever and is in good spirits, simply monitoring the baby’s condition and ensuring they drink plenty of warm water and eat light, easily digestible foods is sufficient, with no other special requirements needed. However, some colds, such as those with persistent high fever, lethargy, and poor responsiveness, are more serious and require immediate attention. It is crucial to visit the hospital for further diagnosis and treatment in these cases. Sometimes, the impact of a cold should not be underestimated, as diseases like myocarditis and intracranial infections can initially be triggered by a cold. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis is necessary to make a judgement, and treatment should proceed under the guidance of a doctor.

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What should I do if someone with liver failure catches a cold?

Patients with liver failure are prone to catching colds due to their weakened immune systems. Additionally, when patients with liver failure catch a cold, the fever and overall inflammatory response can lead to further deterioration of liver function. Cold treatment for such patients should be timely. Cold medications, including fever reducers and other drugs, are metabolized through the liver, and thus can have significant effects on it. Therefore, if patients with liver failure exhibit symptoms of a cold, they must seek medical attention promptly and manage their condition under the guidance of a professional doctor, avoiding self-medication or enduring without treatment.

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What is a cold?

Colds are classified as a type of disease, and clinically, they are mainly divided into common colds and influenza. They are among the most common respiratory infectious diseases in daily life, caused by viral infections. The common cold is mainly caused by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and other viruses, while influenza is mostly caused by influenza viruses or parainfluenza viruses and other pathogens. Symptoms include drowsiness, fatigue, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. The main treatments include drinking plenty of water, antiviral therapy, and symptomatic treatment.

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What are the symptoms of a cold in infants?

Symptoms of a cold in infants generally include less energy and spirit than usual and varying degrees of reduced appetite. Depending on the type of cold, other symptoms may differ. If the cold is caused by a respiratory virus infection, common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, phlegm, and sometimes wheezing. Severe cases may experience shortness of breath. If it's a cold caused by a gastrointestinal virus infection, typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The severity of the cold and the source of the infection can also lead to varying degrees of fever.