Why Does My Baby Catch a Cold and Have a Runny Nose? What Should I Do?
Feb 08, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Ma Yan
Introduction
When a baby catches a cold and has a runny nose, parents can offer foods with cold-relieving properties, such as brown sugar, ginger, and white radish. Additionally, they may try traditional food-based remedies, including brown sugar–ginger tea, white radish soup, and honeysuckle porridge—all of which have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating cold symptoms and nasal discharge.
When a baby catches a cold and develops a runny nose, parents may offer certain foods with therapeutic effects for colds—such as brown sugar, ginger, and white radish—and try traditional dietary remedies like brown sugar–ginger tea, white radish soup, or honeysuckle porridge. These dietary approaches have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating cold-related rhinorrhea.
What Causes Nasal Discharge in Babies with Colds—and How Should It Be Managed?
Nasal discharge in babies with colds results from acute upper respiratory tract infection, commonly occurring after the onset of a cold. Clear nasal discharge typically indicates wind-cold invasion, whereas thick, purulent discharge suggests wind-heat invasion. Medical treatment, as prescribed by a healthcare provider, is recommended.
Wind-cold common cold refers to a typical cold caused by external invasion of wind and cold pathogens, most frequently occurring during winter. Affected infants typically present with marked aversion to cold, mild fever, absence of sweating, headache, generalized body aches or pain, nasal congestion with muffled voice, frequent sneezing, profuse clear nasal discharge, itchy throat, cough with thin, white phlegm, a thin white tongue coating, and a floating or tight pulse. Treatment may include medications prescribed by a physician, such as Wind-Cold Common Cold Granules or Jing Fang Granules.
Wind-heat common cold is another type of common cold, characterized by an exterior syndrome resulting from exposure to wind-heat pathogenic factors. Infants with wind-heat cold typically exhibit prominent fever, mild aversion to wind, distending headache, spontaneous sweating, sore and red throat, cough with yellow, sticky phlegm, nasal congestion with yellow nasal discharge, thirst with preference for cold drinks, and other related symptoms. Generally, the condition is relatively mild, with minimal systemic involvement and low risk of progression. Incidence may increase during seasonal changes but lacks epidemic characteristics. Medications such as Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan (Honeysuckle-Forsythia Detoxifying Pills) may be used under medical guidance.
In addition to active medical treatment, attention to dietary care and cultivation of healthy eating habits are strongly advised, as these measures support effective disease management.
We hope the above information is helpful. Wishing you good health and happiness!
