Can I eat beef with an acute upper respiratory infection?

Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
Updated on September 02, 2024
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Acute upper respiratory infections are usually caused by patients accidentally catching colds and contracting certain viruses or bacteria, leading to varying degrees of clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, fever, and sore throat. For such patients, it is generally not recommended to eat beef. Although beef is highly nutritious, it tends to increase internal heat, especially in patients with heat-type colds. Eating beef at this time may cause the patient to experience increased fever, as well as worsening cough and sore throat symptoms. Therefore, it is suggested that patients with acute upper respiratory infections drink more water and consume more fresh vegetables and fruits to facilitate a quicker recovery.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Why does acute upper respiratory infection cause recurrent fever?

Acute upper respiratory infections are very common in clinical practice, and most patients develop acute inflammatory lesions due to a viral entry into the respiratory tract. A small number of patients may also have combined bacterial or pathogenic microbial infections, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and recurrent fever of varying degrees. In the early stages of acute upper respiratory infections, if medications are not timely and symptomatically administered, and especially if patients have low immune function and do not receive timely medication management, some patients may repeatedly experience fever. The fever is typically high, commonly seen in infants and young children. Therefore, for such patients, it is crucial to provide symptomatic medication promptly and effectively, which usually can effectively control the symptoms of recurrent fever.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
1min 7sec home-news-image

The difference between acute upper respiratory tract infection and acute pharyngitis

The difference between acute upper respiratory infection and acute pharyngitis is actually a matter of the scope and extension of a concept. An upper respiratory infection refers to infections occurring in the nose, pharynx, and throat, collectively known as the upper respiratory tract. If this area is infected by some pathogenic microorganisms, leading to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, cough, and sore throat, we call it an acute upper respiratory infection. Acute pharyngitis specifically refers to the occurrence of inflammation in the pharynx following an infection, primarily presenting with sore throat or cough. This condition is called acute pharyngitis. From this perspective, acute pharyngitis is actually a specific type of acute upper respiratory infection. The main focus is still on distinguishing these diseases, giving special attention where necessary, such as providing specific treatment for pharyngitis, whereas a general cold medicine might suffice for an upper respiratory infection. Thus, there are certain distinctions between the two.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Can acute upper respiratory infections heal on their own?

Acute upper respiratory infections can be self-limiting in clinical settings. It is important to know that upper respiratory infections, mostly caused by viruses, account for about 70% to over 90% of cases. When an upper respiratory tract infection caused by a virus occurs, it is a self-limiting illness. Thus, when acute upper respiratory infections present symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and even coughing or sore throat. If the infection is caused by a virus, the patient can be completely cured. However, it is also important to drink plenty of water during this period and eat foods high in vitamins and proteins to boost the body's immune system. Patients should also be advised to avoid cold and cooling foods, as acute upper respiratory infections can generally heal on their own.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Where to apply moxibustion for acute upper respiratory tract infection?

Acute upper respiratory infections are very common in clinical settings. These patients typically have compromised immune systems, and the infections—caused by viruses, bacteria, or other pathogens—lead to various symptoms such as fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing. Depending on the specifics of viral or bacterial infections, active and effective antiviral or antibacterial treatments can be administered. Additionally, moxibustion can be used as an auxiliary treatment to help these patients. The sites for moxibustion usually include major acupuncture points such as Dazhui (GV14) or Hegu (LI4), among others. The appropriate moxibustion treatment can be determined based on each patient’s specific situation, potentially assisting in the alleviation of symptoms associated with acute upper respiratory infections.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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Do you need to avoid certain foods with an acute upper respiratory tract infection?

Acute upper respiratory infection, commonly known as the common cold, typically manifests with varying degrees of nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, pain, fever, cough, and other clinical symptoms. In treating acute upper respiratory infections, particularly during the cold winter months, antiviral medications and drugs that clear heat and detoxify should be given as symptomatic treatment. Additionally, patients should be advised to drink more warm water and avoid consuming spicy, stimulating, or cold foods. Patients can appropriately consume liquid and light diets, and eat fresh vegetables and fruits which are rich in vitamins essential for the body. Increasing the intake of such foods can facilitate a quicker recovery from the illness.