What to eat for a child with a cold?

Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 03, 2024
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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.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is soaking feet and sweating good for a cold?

Soaking your feet and sweating is beneficial for a cold because there are many acupoints on the soles of the feet. Hot water can stimulate these acupoints after soaking your feet, promote blood circulation, and accelerate the speed of blood circulation in the body, which can cause the whole body to heat up and sweat. Therefore, foot soaking can have a very good therapeutic effect on colds, and sweating can remove toxins from the body, which can be expelled through the sweat on the skin surface, effectively speeding up the recovery from a cold. Therefore, it is advisable to persist in soaking your feet every night. It is also recommended to pay more attention to your diet in daily life, avoid eating spicy and stimulating food, and abstain from smoking and alcohol, which will help in recovery.

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Written by Han Shun Li
Pulmonology
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Can you exercise when you have a cold in the summer?

Generally speaking, it is not advisable to exercise after catching a cold; it is usually recommended to rest instead. This is because after catching a cold, a person's immune system is often weakened, commonly accompanied by symptoms like fatigue, tiredness, and decreased appetite. If one exercises during this time, it will inevitably increase the body's consumption, further reducing the body's resistance, weakening the body even more, and hindering the recovery from the illness. Moreover, exercise increases lung capacity, leading to a higher volume of air passing through the airways, which can aggravate symptoms such as throat discomfort and cough associated with a cold. From this perspective, it is also unsuitable to exercise.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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How to relieve a cold with headache and nausea

Colds accompanied by headache and nausea that prompts a feeling of wanting to vomit can be symptoms caused by a gastrointestinal type of cold, leading to dizziness, headache, nausea, and other discomforts. At this time, one can take some anti-cold medications combined with medications that aid digestion and alleviate symptoms. It is also necessary to take medicines that regulate the stomach and intestines for treatment. Make sure to eat smaller meals more frequently and not to eat too much at one time. Additionally, under the guidance of a doctor, one can take some antiemetic drugs to relieve nausea and the urge to vomit. It's beneficial to consume more liquid or soft foods, such as millet porridge, soft noodles, or vegetable soup. Moreover, it's important to eat slowly and chew thoroughly to fully digest the food and avoid overburdening the intestines and causing symptoms of indigestion.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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How long is the incubation period for a stomach flu?

Gastroenteritis, clinically, is mostly caused by viral infection, hence the incubation period for patients with viral flu typically ranges from one to three days. Due to differing immune functions, patients may exhibit varied clinical symptoms. In addition to upper respiratory infection symptoms, gastroenteritis patients often experience gastrointestinal discomfort, particularly in young infants, manifesting as nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, and diarrhea during the outbreak. Typically, gastroenteritis patients need a week for the infection to resolve and the healing process to complete. Thus, it is crucial in clinical practice to promptly provide antiviral and symptomatic treatment to relieve symptoms. Some mild cases can be cured, but most require appropriate medication for symptomatic treatment.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What should I do about a seasonal cold?

Colds caused by seasonal changes should be treated symptomatically, often due to fluctuations in temperature differences leading to decreased immune function and colds caused by chilling. It is recommended to drink more ginger sugar water and measure body temperature. Drinking ginger sugar water can warm the body and disperse cold, as well as promote metabolism. If there are symptoms of fever, physical methods to reduce fever should be adopted, or antipyretic medications can be taken orally. Firstly, it is important to maintain the cleanliness of the indoor air, avoid eating irritating or spicy foods, measure body temperature twice daily, and possibly combine with antiviral medications for etiological treatment.