Patient's question:
My daughter will be three months old in three days. Recently, as the weather got warmer at night, I switched to lighter clothes, but ended up catching a cold. She has been constantly 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 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, drink plenty of boiled 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 maintain unobstructed breathing. If necessary, during feeding and before bedtime, you can apply a warm, moist towel to the forehead, or use 0.5% ephedrine solution to drop into the nose, one drop per nostril at a time. For breastfeeding babies, you can take 50ml of milk, place it in a scallion stalk (3-5cm long), 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 nose and open the airways. Avoid using oxymetazoline nasal drops 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 needed—rest well and drink plenty of water. For babies with a history of high fever seizures, use fever-reducing and sedative medications when the temperature reaches 38°C. When the temperature is above 39.5°C