What to do if a baby catches a cold?

Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on June 27, 2025
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The baby has caught a cold. Considering that the baby’s organs are not fully developed and their immune response is weak, even a common cold can easily lead to new viral infections or bacterial infections, raising the possibility of severe diseases such as pneumonia. Therefore, when a baby has a cold, it is best to take them to the hospital’s pediatric outpatient clinic for a timely examination and assessment, and to receive active treatment based on the cause. If it is inconvenient to visit the clinic, since most colds are caused by viruses such as respiratory or enteric viruses, you could consider taking some antiviral traditional Chinese medicine at home, as well as some symptomatic treatment medications targeting cold symptoms. Of course, attention must also be paid to dietary management, as the digestive function decreases during a cold. Therefore, it is advisable to eat small, frequent meals and avoid foods that are hard to digest or likely to cause allergies, in order to not exacerbate the child's symptoms. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
1min home-news-image

Can you drink tea when you have a cold?

It is not recommended to drink tea when having a cold; it is advised that patients drink more plain water instead. Patients also need to maintain a light diet and eat some fruits, and it’s recommended to avoid both tea and carbonated beverages, as well as alcohol. For conditions like the common cold, it is important to avoid staying up late and overexerting oneself. The common cold is usually self-limiting, meaning it will typically resolve on its own as the patient's immune system fights off the illness. However, if the symptoms of a cold are severe, it may be necessary to take medication for symptomatic treatment. It is also important to note that while the common cold is usually self-limiting and does not often lead to serious consequences, complications can sometimes arise. For example, it could lead to acute sinusitis or bacterial pneumonia. If a cold sufferer's symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to seek medical attention promptly for proper treatment.

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Written by Hu Bai Yu
Pulmonology
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Is a cold with fever easily contagious?

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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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Cold and cough symptoms.

A cold is caused by the invasion of various pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, and chlamydia into our upper respiratory tract, leading to inflammation there. Due to the inflammation in the upper respiratory tract, a large amount of secretions such as nasal discharge and phlegm in the throat are produced, causing symptoms like coughing. Some patients may have a dry cough, while others might cough up phlegm, which can be white or yellow. Coughing during a cold is a common symptom, and it can generally be addressed by taking some cold medicines, which are available as both traditional Chinese and Western medicines. Choosing the right medicine that suits one's needs can help treat the symptoms of a cold cough. (The use of medicines should be carried out under the guidance of a professional doctor.)

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Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
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Is wind-heat cold contagious?

"Wind-heat cold" is a term used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and diagnosed through TCM methods; from a Western medicine perspective, it could also be a viral infection. Viral colds can be contagious, so sometimes, wind-heat colds may be contagious as well. Therefore, it is necessary to take certain measures to prevent the spread of the disease, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and pregnant women. It's advisable for these groups to avoid contact with individuals who have a wind-heat cold to prevent infection. There is also a need to be cautious of the possibility of bacterial infections in such cases. If the patient has a bacterial infection, active treatment, potentially including antibiotics, may be required.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What should I do if I have a cold and vomiting in the summer?

In summer, patients may catch a cold due to carelessness, especially when the body's immune function is compromised. Colds, varying in type, also differ in accompanying clinical symptoms. For instance, summer cold patients might experience not only fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing but also nausea and vomiting, suggesting the presence of a gastrointestinal-type cold. To address this, it is crucial first to identify the vomiting symptoms accompanying the cold. A gastrointestinal cold is mostly caused by viral infections, so it is necessary to administer antiviral and heat-clearing detoxifying medications promptly for symptomatic treatment. Once the symptoms of the upper respiratory tract are effectively controlled, the vomiting will similarly subside. Of course, patients with gastrointestinal colds must hydrate promptly and consume light, easily digestible, and nutritious food.