Patient's question:
My daughter is three days away from being three months old. Recently, as the weather got warmer at night, I changed her into lighter clothes. However, she caught a cold as a result. She has been sneezing, coughing, and her throat is hoarse. She also cried and couldn't sleep at night. Last night, I put her back into her old thicker clothes, and she sweated all night, but she didn’t have a fever. I’m not sure if I should give her medicine or what kind of medicine to use. Today, her condition has improved slightly compared to yesterday. Could you please advise on how I should handle this?Doctor's answer:
As long as the baby is in good spirits, playful, eating and sleeping normally, parents should arrange a quiet and comfortable environment for the baby to rest fully, drink plenty of plain water, and regulate the diet to reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.When there is nasal congestion, maintain a 45° incline while lying down, elevating the head and face. For unilateral nasal congestion, lie on your side. Clear nasal secretions promptly to keep breathing unobstructed. If necessary, during feeding and before bedtime, you can apply a warm, moist towel to the forehead, or use 0.5% ephedrine solution to, with one drop per nostril at a time. For breastfeeding babies, take 50ml of breast milk, place it in a 3–5cm long scallion stalk, steam for 10 minutes, remove it, and let it cool to a suitable temperature before giving it to the baby. This can help unblock the nose and clear the sinuses. Avoid using oxymetazoline nasal drops, as they may cause adverse reactions.
Fever is a manifestation of the body's defense mechanism and should not be treated with fever-reducing medication too hastily. When the temperature is between 37.5–38.5°C, medication is not needed—rest well and drink plenty of water. For babies with a history of high fever seizures, use fever-reducing and sedative medication when the temperature reaches 38°C. For temperatures above 39.5°C