What to eat when you have a cold and fever

Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
Updated on April 29, 2025
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When suffering from a cold and fever, it is advisable to consume more bland, soft foods that are rich in vitamins and high in fiber. For instance, drinking millet congee or vegetable congee can be beneficial. In terms of fruits and vegetables, options like apples, bananas, kiwi, tomatoes, mung bean sprouts, and carrots are recommended. Avoid overeating, smoking, and drinking alcohol. Foods like soy products, dairy, and eggs can be consumed in moderation. During the acute phase of a cold and fever, it is not recommended to eat meat or seafood, or consume irritating substances like chili peppers. It's better to drink more ginger tea with sugar. To alleviate fever symptoms, physical cooling or medication can be used.

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Is an air conditioning cold a wind-heat cold?

The so-called air conditioning cold refers to a cold phenomenon caused by setting the air conditioning temperature too low, which makes patients overchilled. The clinical symptoms of such patients are mainly those of a cold caused by wind-cold, primarily characterized by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and clear watery nasal discharge, along with an itchy throat and coughing. Of course, these patients may also experience varying degrees of fever. Therefore, air conditioning-induced colds typically occur in the summer, and it is necessary to combine the patient’s clinical symptoms to determine the specific type of cold, which is generally dominated by wind-cold colds.

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How to distinguish a viral cold from a cold caused by exposure to cold weather

A cold caused by getting chilled can often present the same symptoms as a viral cold. This type of cold refers to a situation where, after exposure to cold, an individual's immune system becomes weakened, allowing pathogens residing in the respiratory tract to proliferate rapidly and thus cause a cold. In many cases, a cold from getting chilled is also viral in nature. Symptoms commonly seen in individuals with colds may include runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, sore throat, coughing, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and sometimes a mild fever. However, sometimes a cold due to chilling may also lead to infection by other pathogens, such as bacteria, which can present clinically differently from a viral cold. In such cases, patients might not exhibit typical symptoms like clear nasal discharge or sneezing; instead, they might only show nonspecific upper respiratory symptoms. It is also possible for them to experience high fever, obvious sore throat, and swelling of the tonsils, which are signs of acute purulent tonsillitis, a specific type of bacterial cold.

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Can you drink milk when you have a cold?

Patients with a cold can drink milk in moderation. For a cold, it is advisable to eat a light diet and avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy food. However, it is appropriate to consume some protein-rich foods, such as lean meat and egg whites. During a cold, you can drink a small amount of milk, but it should not be consumed in large quantities. Since milk contains a lot of protein, and the immune system of patients with a cold is weakened, their absorption capacity is reduced. Drinking too much milk can be hard to absorb, thereby increasing the burden on gastrointestinal functions, making it easier to produce phlegm. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink a lot of milk if the cold is severe.

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How to treat a cold with headache?

There are many clinical treatment methods available, including some physical therapies such as local massage, heat application, acupuncture, and gua sha, all of which have certain effects and efficacy. If there are symptoms of fever, under the guidance of a doctor, one can choose non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics to control the release of inflammatory factors and relieve pain. Meanwhile, drink plenty of water to promote metabolism and re-measure your temperature two hours later. If the fever recurs and the illness lasts more than a week, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a check-up to see if there is a secondary bacterial infection.

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How many days does a child's stomach flu self-heal?

Gastroenteritis in children is usually caused by viral infections, which are self-limiting diseases. The course of the disease generally lasts about 5-7 days, so most children can gradually recover within this period. Gastroenteritis is relatively common in pediatrics. Its symptoms are somewhat similar to those of upper respiratory tract infections, including mild coughing, fever, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, and other symptoms. Most children with gastroenteritis will experience gastrointestinal symptoms for about two to three days, which then gradually alleviate. In the later stages of the disease, recurring low-grade fevers often occur, and mild coughing symptoms may also appear. After the course of the disease, the aforementioned symptoms can improve, so parents need not worry too much. If the child's diarrhea is severe, it is important to ensure hydration to avoid dehydration.