Symptoms of bacterial cold

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on November 05, 2024
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Bacterial cold, commonly referred to as an upper respiratory tract infection, is just one of the more common types of colds. Generally, when bacteria infect the respiratory tract, it causes the patient to experience varying degrees of fever, headache, dizziness, and even chills, as well as symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, and even some nasal congestion. Therefore, patients with bacterial colds generally exhibit these symptoms. Of course, some patients with bacterial colds might have lighter infections and may not exhibit typical clinical symptoms of discomfort. Thus, the clinical symptoms presented by each patient with bacterial colds can vary. For patients with bacterial colds, a clear diagnosis can be made by combining some clinical presentations with related auxiliary examinations.

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The symptoms of a minor cold most commonly involve fever in children, accompanied by a runny nose, nasal congestion, and coughing. Some may also experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and even symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. The symptoms can vary for each child. Some babies with a cold may only show symptoms like a runny nose, mild cough, and nasal congestion. Others might present with recurrent high fever, lethargy, and even vomiting and diarrhea. Therefore, it is important to adopt appropriate treatment measures tailored to each specific cause of the illness.

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What should I do if my cold doesn't get better?

The common cold generally follows a process. Eighty percent of common colds start as viral colds, characterized by nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and other catarrhal symptoms. Generally, after three to five days, these catarrhal symptoms gradually disappear, as the virus is self-limiting. If the symptoms do not improve after three to five days and are accompanied by coughing, purulent sputum, and fever, it may have progressed to a bacterial cold, which requires antibiotic treatment. When we commonly refer to a persistent cold, we mainly refer to a cough. Some people might experience a cold for more than ten days, or repeatedly suffer from a dry cough. At this time, it's not that their cold hasn't healed; rather, it's because the respiratory tract has been damaged and needs time to recover. Typically, this kind of irritating dry cough without sputum generally lasts for a while.

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How many days can a cold and cough heal by itself?

In general, the common cold usually resolves itself in about seven days. Common symptoms of a cold often include a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, and coughing, which may be caused by exposure to cold air or getting wet in the rain. It is recommended to stay warm in daily life, and you can also drink some brown sugar ginger tea to dispel the cold inside the body. Additionally, soaking your feet in hot water before bed can help promote the self-healing process of a cold. At the same time, it is important to note that if the symptoms are severe, such as severe coughing, coughing up thick yellow phlegm, or difficulty in expectorating phlegm, it is essential to visit a hospital for an examination. Under the guidance of a doctor, carrying out relevant tests and taking medication according to the test results for targeted treatment is crucial.

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Can you not eat seafood when you have a cold?

Cold patients can generally eat seafood unless they are allergic to it. The common cold is the most frequently seen acute upper respiratory tract infection in clinical settings, and it is a contagious disease. It can cause a variety of clinical symptoms such as fever, cough, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sore throat. Therefore, patients with a cold will experience certain consumption, including nutritional and fluid loss. Seafood is the most common marine product food, and it does not affect the common cold. This means that eating seafood does not worsen the clinical symptoms of a cold. Moreover, seafood contains rich nutrients, which can beneficially supplement the losses caused by the cold. Of course, a very small number of cold patients may have an allergic constitution and be allergic to seafood, in which case it is not suitable for them, but this situation is very rare.

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Can a cold cause vomiting?

The common cold is caused by a viral infection, often causing symptoms in the nasopharyngeal area, such as sneezing, runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, fever, headaches, and so on. So, can a cold cause vomiting? Yes, a cold can cause vomiting. The symptoms mentioned earlier are typical of a cold. Some people may experience gastrointestinal symptoms during a cold, often referred to as a "stomach cold," which can include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Therefore, sometimes cold sufferers may experience vomiting.