A cold with a runny nose and sore throat is what kind of cold?

Written by An Yong Peng
Pulmonology
Updated on May 25, 2025
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A cold accompanied by a runny nose and a sore throat may be a viral infection. Typical symptoms of a viral cold include a runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a sore throat, as well as coughing. Sometimes symptoms also include headache, muscle aches, chills, fatigue, and even a low fever. Influenza can also cause symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat, but compared to a common viral cold, influenza is more likely to present with high fever and more severe systemic symptoms such as muscle aches and fatigue. Furthermore, the treatment for influenza differs from that of a common cold; besides symptomatic treatment, antiviral treatment with neuraminidase inhibitors is often required for influenza.

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Some common symptoms of encephalitis secondary to a cold in children primarily include fever, usually moderate to high, though some may exhibit low fever. Next, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, primarily around the forehead, crown, or occipital region, may occur. This is followed by vomiting, which is generally more evident after eating or drinking, with some exhibiting persistent vomiting. Additionally, some may experience lethargy, weakness, or even seizures.

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What should a pregnant woman eat when she has a cold?

During pregnancy, if a pregnant woman accidentally catches a cold, she can use some dietary therapy methods to recuperate. She can drink some ginger tea with sugar, which can alleviate headaches, nasal congestion, runny nose, and joint pains caused by the cold. Additionally, she can drink honey, which contains various bioactive substances that can stimulate the body's immune function and have a beneficial effect on the body's recovery from a cold. Furthermore, she can eat radishes, which are rich in nutrients and trace elements such as calcium, iron, and zinc, to enhance the body's resistance and speed up the recovery from the cold.

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What is a cold?

Colds are classified as a type of disease, and clinically, they are mainly divided into common colds and influenza. They are among the most common respiratory infectious diseases in daily life, caused by viral infections. The common cold is mainly caused by rhinoviruses, adenoviruses, and other viruses, while influenza is mostly caused by influenza viruses or parainfluenza viruses and other pathogens. Symptoms include drowsiness, fatigue, fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. The main treatments include drinking plenty of water, antiviral therapy, and symptomatic treatment.

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Can I eat sea cucumber when I have a cold?

It is best not to eat sea cucumber during a cold, as it is considered a 'cold' food. Eating sea cucumber while having a cold can easily worsen the condition, and if there is an allergy to seafood, it may trigger an allergic reaction. During a cold, patients can eat some light fruits and vegetables, and it is generally not recommended to eat sea cucumber. During a cold, the body is relatively weak, and gastrointestinal function is not very good. Eating sea cucumber can lead to indigestion, which is not conducive to recovery from the cold. It is necessary to treat the cold with appropriate medication, and sea cucumber can be eaten after recovery.

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Types and Symptoms of Common Cold

From the perspective of Western medicine, there are primarily two types of colds: the common cold and influenza. The symptoms of the common cold are different and mainly include nasal congestion, runny nose, dry and sore throat, tearing, sneezing, and other symptoms. In contrast, influenza mainly manifests as weakness in the limbs, muscle soreness, and some may experience fixed joint swelling and pain. It can also cause complications such as nausea and vomiting, mainly due to infections caused by different pathogens, thus the symptoms vary.