Is a sore throat caused by a cold with wind-cold or a cold with wind-heat?

Written by Guo Xiao Yun
Pulmonology
Updated on January 27, 2025
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Sore throat may be caused by a cold due to wind-cold or wind-heat, which are terms used in traditional Chinese medicine. However, from a Western medicine perspective, both wind-cold and wind-heat colds are caused by viral infections, and in rare cases, bacterial infections. When bacteria or viruses invade the respiratory tract's mucous membranes, especially the mucous membranes of the throat, it leads to congestion and swelling of the throat mucosa, increased exudation of inflammatory secretions, resulting in symptoms such as sore throat, throat discomfort, and coughing up phlegm. Therefore, a sore throat could be due to a cold caused by wind-cold or wind-heat. In such cases, it is appropriate to take some anti-cold medications or some Chinese patent medicines to alleviate the symptoms.

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Pulmonology
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What should you avoid eating when you have a cold and fever?

There are many foods that should not be consumed during a fever caused by a cold, such as spicy foods including chili peppers, black pepper, mustard, onions, ginger, and garlic. Avoid these items, as well as fried foods, foods high in fat, overly sweet foods, and overly sour foods, for example, fried foods, pork belly, pig head meat, or some candies, creams, cheeses, and pastries. Furthermore, attention should also be given to avoiding carbonated drinks, alcoholic beverages, strong tea, and coffee. The diet should be light with the option to consume things like millet porridge, vegetable porridge, or some freshly squeezed juices to provide vitamins and enhance body resistance, helping to expedite recovery from cold and fever symptoms. During a fever, it is important to monitor body temperature. If it exceeds 38.5°C, fever-reducing medication should be taken; otherwise, physical cooling methods can be sufficient.

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Symptoms of a stomach cold

The most common symptom of gastroenteritis is vomiting. The presence of pathogens irritates the stomach, causing it to contract and expel its contents. Secondly, diarrhea is a common symptom, primarily due to irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, which significantly increases secretions and affects absorption functions, leading to faster intestinal movements and resulting in loose stools. Thirdly, the increased intestinal movements can also lead to abdominal pain, along with the diarrhea.

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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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Gastrointestinal cold and fever, how many degrees?

Gastrointestinal cold is a very common type of cold clinically, mainly caused by viruses invading the respiratory tract, leading to patients experiencing fever, with generally high body temperature during fever. For patients with fever, since the severity of viral infection varies from person to person, the clinical symptoms of fever and the degree of fever also vary. The specific degree of fever in Celsius depends on the detailed condition of each patient. Typically, the fever in a gastrointestinal cold is above 39°C, and the patient may also experience nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, nasal congestion, and a runny nose, among other clinical symptoms.

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What should I do if a cold and fever persist?

It is necessary to take corresponding interventions based on the degree of fever to prevent complications such as high fever convulsions and coma. Firstly, drink more water and rest more. You can wipe your palms, feet, neck, and inner thighs—areas where major blood vessels pass—with warm water or alcohol, which can help restore body temperature. You can also use a cool towel or ice packs to compress the forehead, which can protect brain cells and be effective. Along with taking antipyretic and analgesic drugs for symptomatic treatment, re-measure the temperature after two hours.