What should I do if the baby has a cold and cough?

Written by Lian Wen Xi
Pediatrics
Updated on May 26, 2025
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When children catch a cold and cough, specific treatments should be based on the causes of the cold and the severity of the cough. If the child's cold results from exposure to cold weather and other similar reasons, and the cough symptoms are not very severe, some home care can be applied. For example, you can have your child drink more warm water, ensure they are dressed warmly, eat a light diet, and get adequate rest. With time, the symptoms of the cold may improve. However, if the child's cold is caused by a bacterial infection and the cough symptoms are severe, it is advisable to visit a formal hospital for relevant examinations. Then, treatment with the appropriate antibiotics should be carried out based on the examination results.

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Can you drink alcohol when you have a cold and a stuffy nose?

A cold, also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, causes patients to experience symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing due to the congestion and swelling of the nasal mucous membrane from viral or bacterial infection. Some patients may also experience fever and coughing. Therefore, for patients with upper respiratory tract infections, it is not advisable to consume alcohol. Alcohol, which is spicy and stimulating, could worsen cold symptoms. Alcohol promotes blood circulation and can exacerbate congestion and swelling of the nasal and pharyngeal mucous membranes. Consequently, drinking alcohol can intensify symptoms like nasal congestion. Thus, it is not recommended to drink alcohol when experiencing nasal congestion during a cold.

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How to treat phlegm in children with colds

When children have a cold with phlegm, the treatment includes: 1. Administering antiviral drugs or other appropriate medications based on the cause of the cold; 2. Providing specific oral cold medicines for treatment; 3. If there is a lot of phlegm, oral medications to reduce phlegm can be used in combination with other treatments. When there is less phlegm, parents can encourage the child to drink more water, frequently hydrate, and assist with patting the back, which helps to moisten and expel the phlegm. For excessive phlegm, nebulization inhalation treatments can also be used, where the medication acts directly on the respiratory tract, helping with the absorption of respiratory tract phlegm. In severe cases, if there is a lot of phlegm with coughing discomfort or a severe cough, it is necessary to take the child to the hospital for detailed laboratory tests. Based on the specific pathogen causing the excessive phlegm and cold, targeted treatment should be given under the guidance of a doctor.

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Can a baby take a bath when they have a cold?

When babies have a cold, it is generally not recommended to give them a bath soak, but showering is acceptable. This is because soaking for an extended period may worsen the symptoms of the cold. However, if the baby has a fever, showering with warm water can help reduce their temperature, which is an effective physical cooling measure. But if soaking in a bath, the extended time in the water and the slight dilation of pores may allow cold to penetrate further into the body, potentially worsening the cold symptoms. Therefore, under these circumstances, it is temporarily advised against giving babies a bath soak. However, a medicinal herbal bath is a different matter.

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How to deal with a sore throat from a cold due to excessive internal heat?

Experiencing a cold due to excessive internal heat sometimes leads to symptoms like sore throat and dry throat. If the symptoms are mild, one can manage them through dietary adjustments or by drinking mulberry leaf and chrysanthemum tea, which may alleviate the clinical symptoms. One can also use Isatis root, as it can treat sore throats and relieve some of its symptoms. However, if a cold from excessive heat causes severe sore throat, along with other systemic symptoms like fever and headache, it is crucial to take medicine and consult a doctor to determine the most suitable medication. Additionally, if the sore throat caused by the cold is accompanied by other discomforts, such as severe throat pain and elevated blood markers, it is appropriate to use antibiotics in combination with other treatments. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor and avoid self-medicating.)

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Which department should I go to for a stomach flu?

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