What department should I go to for a baby's cold?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on February 09, 2025
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Infant colds are diseases caused by respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infections, and onset is usually sudden. The registration for a doctor's visit may vary depending on the timing. If it's during normal working hours, then a visit to the pediatric outpatient clinic is usually sufficient. However, if it's during off hours, such as at noon, evening, weekends, or public holidays, then a visit to the pediatric emergency department is generally required. Additionally, depending on the symptoms accompanying the cold, a sub-specialty within pediatrics can be chosen. For instance, if the infant cold includes significant respiratory symptoms, then a visit to the pediatric respiratory medicine outpatient clinic is appropriate. If the cold comes with gastrointestinal symptoms, then the pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic is suitable.

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Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Chills and dizziness are symptoms of what kind of cold?

Chills and dizziness are just symptoms of a common cold, which clinically is categorized into wind-cold, wind-heat, and summer-heat colds. In both wind-cold and wind-heat colds, symptoms of chills and dizziness can appear. When distinguishing between them, generally, a wind-cold cold presents more severe chills but milder fever, and symptoms may include dizziness and covered sweat. Note that sweating while covered is a symptom of wind-cold colds. Other symptoms include headache, sore limbs, and a floating-tight pulse, characteristic of a wind-cold cold. In wind-heat colds, chills and dizziness also occur, but the chills are milder and the fever is more intense. Symptoms include sweating, unresolved heat, dizziness, headache or a sense of swelling, flushed face, red eyes, and signs of heat such as dry mouth, preference for cold drinks, a thin yellow tongue coating, and a floating-rapid pulse. Therefore, in addition to observing chills and dizziness, other clinical symptoms must be considered to determine whether the cold is of the wind-cold or wind-heat type.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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How to treat a viral cold

How to treat viral colds depends on whether it is an epidemic flu or a common cold. If it is just a common viral cold, special treatment is generally not needed. Pay attention to rest, ensure sufficient good sleep and appropriate indoor temperature and humidity. By drinking more boiled water and eating more vegetables, you can naturally recover. If it is epidemic flu, you can choose to take antipyretic analgesics and antiviral drugs to relieve symptoms. You can take Qingkailing, combined with acetaminophen, vitamin C, Yinqiao tablets, and other medications. Note: Medications should be used under the guidance of a doctor.

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Written by Wu Shu Jie
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Can scraping (gua sha) treat a cold?

Gua Sha is one of the methods used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating and preventing diseases. It is often performed on the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, which is located on the back of the human body. The Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang is superficial and acts as the first line of defense when external pathogens invade the body. By scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang, it stimulates the meridians and channels, enhances the body's immunity, and promotes the expulsion of pathogenic factors by strengthening the body’s vital energy. According to TCM, "when the vital energy is preserved within, pathogens cannot interfere." Therefore, scraping the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang can help in treating and preventing the common cold.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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Is it normal to not catch a cold for a long time?

Not catching a cold for a long time is normal and indicates that the body is healthy with a normal immune function and robust defensive capabilities. In contrast, patients who frequently catch colds and fever generally have low immunity, showing signs of a weak constitution. Such individuals should drink more water and exercise more often. There is no need to worry or take any intervention measures if you do not catch a cold for a long period. Maintain a regular routine, adjust your mindset, avoid exposure to irritating chemicals, keep a positive attitude, avoid staying up late, and have regular health check-ups.

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What to do when a one-year-old baby has a cold?

For treating a cold in a one-year-old baby, we mainly handle symptoms as they appear. If the baby has only occasional mild coughing or a slight fever, if they can eat and drink, and if their spirits are good, then parents don't need to worry too much, and special treatment generally isn't necessary. However, if the baby has a severe cough that affects their breathing, a fever over 38 degrees Celsius, and their spirits are not good, it is important to take the baby to the hospital for timely treatment. It's important to emphasize that parents should not arbitrarily use medications to treat the baby, as many cold medicines intended for adults should not be used for babies.