Itchy throat and coughing, is it a wind-heat cold or a wind-cold cold?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on March 22, 2025
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When patients present with symptoms such as itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting, it is generally difficult to distinguish between a wind-heat cold and a wind-cold cold based solely on these symptoms. Distinguishing between wind-heat and wind-cold colds requires combining other clinical symptoms to accurately differentiate. Typically, patients with wind-heat colds are more common during the hot summers. These patients experience varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing, along with fever, chills, sore throat, and often cough up yellow sputum. On the other hand, wind-cold colds tend to occur more often in winter. These patients exhibit varying degrees of itchy throat and cough, nasal congestion, and also experience different degrees of fever, but generally do not have chills. Therefore, it is generally difficult to specifically distinguish the type of cold based on the solitary symptoms of itchy throat and cough in a clinical setting.

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Symptoms of excessive internal heat and cold

The symptoms of a heat-induced cold are numerous. Initially, one may experience a bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and ringing in the ears. It is likely to be accompanied by insomnia, frequent dreaming, and restlessness. In severe cases, symptoms may include nasal congestion, runny nose, chills, and aversion to cold. Thus, if one experiences a heat-induced cold, it is crucial to manage and treat it promptly to prevent exacerbation of the condition. Ordinarily, one can take heat-reducing medications, or consume more fresh fruits and vegetables, which can effectively help improve symptoms. It is also important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and avoid staying up late.

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Can babies spit up milk when they have a cold?

After a baby catches a cold, symptoms such as vomiting milk can occur. Following a cold, the secretion of digestive enzymes decreases, which can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms including sudden nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. When cold-induced vomiting is severe, it's important to feed the child a light, easily digestible diet and administer antiemetic medications, such as Vitamin B6, compound rennin, or aluminum phosphate gel, which can effectively stop the vomiting. Additionally, it is crucial to actively treat the cold, primarily through symptomatic treatment, increased fluid intake, and taking cold medicine.

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Can I drink milk when I have a cold?

During a cold, it is okay to drink milk because milk contains abundant proteins, various trace elements, and minerals that can supplement the body's nutrition, boost the immune system, and facilitate recovery from the cold. However, during a cold, it is advised not to drink cold milk but to drink warm milk instead, as gastrointestinal function is also weakened during a cold. Drinking cold milk might irritate the gastrointestinal tract, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Moreover, it is important not to drink excessive amounts of milk during a cold. Drinking a moderate amount of milk is acceptable, as too much milk can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. Besides drinking milk, consuming fresh vegetables and fruits and drinking plenty of warm water can also help speed up recovery from a cold.

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How many days does it take to recover from a cold?

How long does a cold last? Normally, a common cold can recover within 5-7 days. Influenza might have a slightly longer duration, generally requiring 7-10 days to resolve. The specific situation also depends on the virulence of the cold virus, the body's immune capability, the amount of virus, and the body’s resistance. There are some clinical variations. The common cold itself is a contagious, self-limiting disease, caused by viral infections like influenza or parainfluenza, leading to respiratory infections. The main treatment involves drinking plenty of water, resting, symptom management, and preventing complications.

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Can you eat crab when you have a cold?

Generally speaking, it is okay to eat crab when you have a cold. Crab contains rich nutrients that can enhance one's physique, improve immunity, and strengthen the body's ability to resist viruses. However, it is important to control the amount consumed. Crabs, being aquatic animals, are quite cold in nature. During a cold, the body's constitution is relatively weak, and the gastrointestinal function is not very good. Eating too much crab can increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, which is not conducive to the recovery from a cold. During a cold, it is advisable to eat some light fruits and vegetables.