Patient's question:
My daughter is three days away from turning three months old. Recently, as the weather got warmer at night, I changed her into lighter clothes. As a result, she caught a cold. She has been constantly running a nose, coughing, and her throat is hoarse. At night, she also cries and fusses. 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 whether I should give her medicine or what kind of medicine to use. Her condition has improved slightly today. 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 their diet to reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines.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 sleep, you can apply a warm, moist towel to the forehead, or use 0.5% ephedrine solution to ( means "" in Chinese, so it should be translated as "" or "apply to the nose"), one drop per nostril at a time. For breastfeeding babies, you can take 50ml of breast milk, insert a 3–5cm piece of scallion white into it, steam for 10 minutes, remove it, and let it cool to a suitable temperature before giving it to the baby. This can help clear the nasal passage and open the airways. Avoid using oxyphenonium nitrate () to prevent adverse reactions.
Fever is a manifestation of the body's defense mechanism and should not be treated with fever-reducing measures too hastily. When the temperature is between 37.5–38.5°C, medication is not necessary—rest well and drink plenty of water. For babies with a history of febrile seizures, use fever-reducing and sedative medications when the temperature reaches 38°C. When the temperature is above 39.5°C