Question
The 5-year-old child has symptoms such as fever, tonsillitis, and runny nose. The doctor diagnosed it as a cold disease. What is the cold disease, how is it contracted, and can it be cured?
Answer
Cold disease is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Haemophilus influenzae. It is mainly transmitted by consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms include persistent high fever, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, or constipation. With early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment, cold disease can be cured. The child should get plenty of rest, pay attention to diet, and gradually resume activities after the condition stabilizes to avoid recurrence due to unremoved lesions. During the fever period, the child should rest in bed to reduce stimulation and consume easily digestible, frequent meals to avoid forced feeding. As the condition improves, the diet can gradually become thicker. Generally, normal diet can be resumed after about a week. More fruit juices should be consumed to aid recovery.