What is the difference between a stomach cold and a common cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on January 02, 2025
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Gastrointestinal flu and common cold have certain differences. The so-called gastrointestinal flu, clinically, often involves some viruses infecting the respiratory tract, which causes patients to have not only upper respiratory symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fever, and throat itchiness. These patients will also experience gastrointestinal discomforts like nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension, diarrhea, and a decrease in appetite. These symptoms indicate gastrointestinal flu. On the other hand, patients with a common cold typically exhibit only upper respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, throat itchiness, and coughing. Generally, a common cold does not accompany symptoms like abdominal distension, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Is scraping effective for a stomach cold?

When experiencing a stomach cold, gua sha can also be quite effective. Because during gua sha, it can effectively promote the digestion of the gastrointestinal tract and also improve internal heat conditions. It's also necessary to pay close attention to diet, such as avoiding overly greasy, spicy, or cold foods, and primarily sticking to a light diet to effectively prevent worsening the condition. Additionally, it's important to rest well and you can also massage the abdomen in a clockwise direction, which can effectively help promote gastrointestinal digestion and provide substantial relief from the illness.

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Written by Zhang Xian Hua
Pediatrics
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What are the symptoms of a cold in infants?

Symptoms of a cold in infants generally include less energy and spirit than usual and varying degrees of reduced appetite. Depending on the type of cold, other symptoms may differ. If the cold is caused by a respiratory virus infection, common symptoms include nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, phlegm, and sometimes wheezing. Severe cases may experience shortness of breath. If it's a cold caused by a gastrointestinal virus infection, typical symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. The severity of the cold and the source of the infection can also lead to varying degrees of fever.

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Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
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Does Yin deficiency make one prone to catching a cold?

Patients with Yin deficiency are prone to catching colds. However, generally speaking, it does not cause colds. It might be that some individual patients are prone to colds, so it varies from person to person, and there is no specific situation. Yin deficiency mainly causes physical weakness, poor health, and reduced immunity, which can then easily lead to colds and other symptoms. Therefore, if Yin deficiency occurs, it is crucial to treat it promptly with medication and also to eat more foods that nourish Yin and supplement Yang in the diet.

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Written by Li Jian Wu
Pulmonology
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What to drink for a cold with fever?

For heat colds, one should initially drink more mung bean soup, which can act as a heat reliever. Medications like Huoxiang Zhengqi Water can also be taken to alleviate discomfort. Avoid long-term exposure to high temperatures in work and life, and ensure indoor air is well-ventilated and disinfected. Appropriate consumption of green tea, jasmine tea, etc., can also assist in the treatment of heat colds. At the same time, measure body temperature and treat symptoms accordingly based on clinical signs. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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What water should be boiled for drinking when having a cold with heat symptoms?

Heat colds are one of the very common types of colds seen clinically, often occurring in the hot summer months. Typically, patients with this type of cold exhibit symptoms such as fever, headache, and dizziness. During a fever, they may also experience varying degrees of chills. Additionally, they may suffer from sore throat and cough, often producing yellow sputum. For patients with this type of heat cold, it is generally recommended to drink plenty of plain water. They can also appropriately consume beverages like rock sugar pear water, as well as drinks made from fat sea and honeysuckle. If the patient exhibits different degrees of cough and yellow sputum, drinking monk fruit water could also be beneficial. These can help alleviate some of the patient's clinical discomforts. Overall, it is advisable for patients with a heat cold to drink more plain water, as this tends to be more beneficial.