Throughout life, immunity develops in stages. The period before age 6 is termed the "physiological immune deficiency state," during which babies have weak resistance and are highly susceptible to illness.Before 6 months, breast milk provides immune proteins that confer resistance against viral infections. After 6 months, maternal immunity gradually diminishes. While babies develop their own immunity, it remains weaker than before 6 months. When immunity is low, babies become susceptible to colds and other symptoms. Frequent colds due to weak immunity significantly impact a baby's healthy development.
A baby's susceptibility to colds is closely linked to their immunity.
The common cold is a self-limiting illness characterized clinically by nasal congestion, cough, headache, chills, fever, and general malaise. It can occur year-round but is particularly common in spring. Common acute infectious respiratory diseases like the cold are clinically classified into the common cold and influenza. If a baby has weak immunity, they may experience frequent colds.Therefore, mothers should help their babies strengthen their immunity.
A baby's weak immunity can be improved through enhanced nutrition, especially protein-rich foods. Medication can also be considered. If zinc deficiency is present, the baby's immunity may be compromised, and appropriate zinc supplementation can be beneficial. When a child's immunity is low, they are more susceptible to colds. Getting preventive vaccinations during seasonal transitions is also a good option.Daily care should focus on balanced nutrition, ample fruit and vegetable intake, sufficient vitamin C supplementation, healthy lifestyle habits, and regular exercise to build physical resilience and reduce susceptibility to colds. When necessary, immune modulators may be considered under medical guidance. Common Misconceptions About Treating Children's Colds Parents often hold misconceptions about treating childhood colds. If left uncorrected, these beliefs can cause unexpected harm.
Misconception 1: Intravenous drips speed recovery from colds and fevers
The belief that intravenous drips are necessary to reduce fever during colds is not only a "folk remedy" among some parents but is even recommended by certain doctors. This is actually a misconception.
Medically termed intravenous infusion, its purposes are twofold: {1} replenishing fluids, calories, and electrolytes;{2} Administer therapeutic medications. If the patient is not dehydrated (e.g., no vomiting, diarrhea, or prolonged inability to drink/eat) and does not require intravenous medication, IV fluids are not the optimal choice.
The common cold is an infectious disease, and fever is the body's defense mechanism against infection—it is a symptom, not the disease itself. Unless the fever is extremely high, hasty intervention to reduce it is generally inadvisable.Once the body produces sufficient antibodies against the invading pathogen and overcomes the infection, the temperature will naturally decrease. Physical methods such as warm baths, wet towel wraps, or cold saline enemas can be used to reduce fever. Medication is the next option. For infants and young children, allow the fever to resolve naturally if the temperature is below 38.5°C (101.3°F).For temperatures above 38.5°C, administer appropriate antipyretic medications like oral medications such as Motrin or Tylenol based on the situation. Measure the temperature half an hour after medication; a reduction to around 38.5°C is sufficient. Excessive use of antipyretics causing the temperature to drop too rapidly may lead to a rebound fever once the medication wears off before the illness has resolved. Use antipyretics with particular caution for infants under 6 months to prevent overdose.
Children's colds often involve sudden high fevers, sometimes reaching 39°C (102.2°F) or higher. However, fever severity does not indicate disease severity.
Some parents worry high fevers may "damage the brain," but this concern is unfounded unless temperatures persist above 42°C (107.2°F) for extended periods. Even temperatures as high as 41°C (106.8°F) do not cause brain damage.
When should intravenous fluids be considered for a cold? First, if the patient experiences severe vomiting or diarrhea, making oral medication impossible. Second, if dehydration symptoms are present (such as dry mouth or skin). Third, if certain medications are only available in injectable form and not as oral formulations (this is rarely the case for cold medications).Fourth, when the condition is severe and requires rapid drug delivery. However, the common cold is never a severe illness unless misdiagnosed by a physician.
Misconception 2: More Expensive Medications Are More Reliable
With improved economic conditions, many parents today spare no expense for their children. They are willing to spend heavily on medical care and insist on the most expensive medications prescribed by doctors for peace of mind. This is another misunderstanding.
The vast majority of colds are caused by viruses and are medically termed "self-limiting diseases." Without complications, symptoms typically resolve on their own within 1 to 5 days of fever onset. Strictly speaking, medication is unnecessary. In fact, there is no specific cure for the common cold. Currently widely used antiviral drugs like ribavirin merely alleviate symptoms like fever, nasal congestion, and cough.Some parents mistakenly believe that more expensive drugs are better. Different medications have strict indications and contraindications. Using them without understanding the situation may not only be ineffective but potentially harmful.
Some parents overuse antibiotics for their children, treating them as fever reducers—a practice with even greater risks. This not only fosters drug resistance but also kills beneficial bacteria in the body, disrupting the microbial balance and potentially leading to more severe infections.
Misconception 3: Flu Vaccines Prevent Colds
A parent once asked at our clinic:My child got the flu shot, so why do they keep catching colds?" It turned out the child had received the flu vaccine, pneumococcal vaccine, and Haemophilus influenzae vaccine over the past year. The parent assumed all these vaccines protected against respiratory illnesses and expected the child to "safely" get through winter. Yet, as soon as the weather turned cold, the child caught a cold again, leaving the parent deeply puzzled.
It seems this parent misunderstood the difference between influenza and the common cold. Though their symptoms overlap, they are distinct illnesses caused by different viruses. The flu shot protects against influenza but does not prevent colds.As for the pneumococcal and Haemophilus influenzae vaccines mentioned by the parent, these target the primary pathogens causing childhood pneumonia. Beyond pneumonia, they can also lead to meningitis, otitis media, tonsillitis, and other conditions. Vaccination aims to prevent these diseases, but they do not protect against the common cold. In fact, no vaccine currently exists to prevent the common cold.