Symptoms of cold and fever in children

Written by Yao Li Qin
Pediatrics
Updated on February 04, 2025
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Child colds indicate an upper respiratory infection, mostly caused by viral infections, with some triggering bacterial infections. It is very common for children with colds to have fevers. In such cases, it is important to ensure the child is well-hydrated. If the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen suspension should be administered. Additionally, cold medications can be taken to alleviate symptoms. When the temperature is below 38.5°C, drinking plenty of fluids is usually sufficient. In essence, the main treatment for a cold is symptomatic relief. Symptoms like fever, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing are all common with colds. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate.)

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How to deal with heatstroke, cold, and fever?

In summer, due to the high temperatures, the human body can intake too much heat, leading to weakened immunity and symptoms such as colds and fevers, including sore throat, pain in the throat, runny nose, chills, and feverish symptoms. In such cases, symptomatic treatment can be carried out, starting with controlling the indoor temperature, which should not be too high or too low, and can be in an air-conditioned room, but the room temperature should not be set too low. Also, drink more water and appropriately take some cold medicine for symptomatic treatment. If the body temperature reaches above 38.5°C and physical cooling methods are not controlling it, fever-reducing medications might be needed. It is best to visit a hospital for relevant examinations, such as routine blood tests, liver and kidney function tests, and electrolytes, to rule out serious damage to internal organs caused by heatstroke.

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Symptoms of a cold caused by wind-cold

The so-called common cold, which is often referred to as the common cold, is divided from the perspective of Chinese medicine into heat-type colds and cold-type colds. A wind-cold cold refers to the symptoms that occur when a patient is exposed to wind and cold causing viruses or other pathogens to enter the respiratory tract, characterized by fever, headache, runny nose—often clear mucus—along with coughing and an itchy throat. Thus, in clinical practice, for patients with a wind-cold cold, if symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing occur, it is appropriate to use heat-clearing, detoxifying, and antiviral medications according to the patient's symptoms for symptomatic treatment. The discomfort caused by the wind-cold cold can be effectively controlled.

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What is the best treatment for a mild cold?

Minor colds generally do not require medication. If your resistance is normal, adjusting your diet and ensuring proper rest usually allows for natural recovery. In terms of diet, it's important to avoid overly greasy, high-calorie foods, prevent overeating, maintain indoor air cleanliness, drink more ginger tea, avoid staying up late, take your temperature twice daily, and consume fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, such as kiwi, tomatoes, dragon fruit, and mango. Typically, recovery occurs within three to seven days.

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Can you donate blood if you have a cold?

You cannot donate blood when you have a cold, as colds are mostly caused by bacterial or viral infections, and donations are not allowed during this time. Before donating blood, a series of tests are required, and donation is not allowed when you are sick. Additionally, your immune system is generally weaker when you have a cold. Donating blood at this time could worsen the symptoms of the cold. After donating, your immunity could be even lower, making your body weaker, thus hindering the recovery from the cold. Therefore, you should not donate blood while having a cold. Wait until at least half a month after the symptoms have subsided before donating blood. Furthermore, you should eat lightly, avoiding spicy, greasy, raw, or irritating foods. Before donating blood, you should avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and staying up late to ensure you get enough sleep and boost your immunity.

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Does common cold cause dry cough?

In clinical practice, ailments like the common cold, also known as upper respiratory infections, generally occur in patients due to reduced immune function, exposure to cold, or contraction of wind-cold, causing various symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, dry and itchy throat, coughing, and pain. Therefore, as with the previous infection, most clinical cases are caused by viral infections. So, when patients suffer from upper respiratory infections, they often experience varying degrees of dry cough, which is very common. Typically, identifying the specific infecting pathogen causing the common cold and providing symptomatic treatment can lead to a full recovery within about a week. For severe dry cough symptoms, appropriate cough suppressant medications can be used for symptomatic treatment.