What is the difference between wind-heat感冒 and wind-cold感冒?

Wind-heat感冒 and wind-cold感冒 differ significantly in symptoms due to different pathogenic factors. The core distinctions mainly include etiology and pathogenesis, manifestations of fever and aversion to cold, respiratory symptoms, accompanying symptoms, tongue coating, and pulse characteristics. A detailed analysis is as follows:

1. Etiology and Pathogenesis: Wind-heat感冒 is caused by external invasion of wind-heat pathogens, primarily involving heat disturbing the body; wind-cold感冒 results from wind-cold pathogens binding the exterior and muscles, with the core issue being obstruction of qi circulation by cold. The nature of the pathogenic factors is opposite, leading to different disease mechanisms.

2. Fever and Aversion to Cold: In wind-heat感冒, fever is more pronounced while aversion to cold is mild, often accompanied by slight sensitivity to wind without significant chills. In wind-cold感冒, aversion to cold is marked, with relatively mild fever, obvious feeling of coldness, cold limbs, and relief of chills upon adding clothing.

3. Respiratory Symptoms: Wind-heat感冒 presents with nasal congestion, yellow nasal discharge, sore and swollen throat, cough, and yellow, viscous phlegm. Wind-cold感冒 features nasal congestion, clear watery nasal discharge, itchy but non-painful throat, cough, and white, thin, watery sputum. There are clear differences in color and consistency of secretions between the two.

4. Accompanying Symptoms: Wind-heat感冒 is commonly associated with dry mouth and throat, headache with a sensation of fullness, thirst with desire to drink, and dark, scanty urine. Wind-cold感冒 often includes headache, body aches, limb soreness, absence of sweating, lack of thirst, or preference for warm drinks—symptoms consistent with the cold or heat nature of the invading pathogen.

5. Tongue Coating and Pulse: In wind-heat感冒, the tongue coating is thin and yellow, the tip of the tongue reddish, and the pulse floating and rapid. In wind-cold感冒, the tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse floating and tight. Tongue appearance and pulse condition are key diagnostic criteria for differentiation.

Differentiation between the two types requires comprehensive evaluation of overall symptoms to avoid misdiagnosis based on isolated signs. Treatment should be symptom-targeted, strictly following medical guidance to ensure safety and effectiveness.