Question
A 10-month-old baby has had a cold for the past two days, with fever. Now the fever is gone, but the baby still has symptoms of a runny nose, cough, and sneezing. The baby also has a thicker tongue coating and reduced appetite. What should be done?
Answer
Based on the description, the baby experienced coughing after catching a cold, which gradually worsened, accompanied by an increase in tongue coating and a lack of interest in eating. This may indicate bronchitis or pneumonia. If routine blood tests show bacterial infection, amoxicillin can be used for treatment. If the infection is viral, antibiotics should not be used as overuse may exacerbate the condition. It is recommended to drink plenty of water and take pediatric cold and cough medications, such as honey-sweetened Chuan Bei Bai He syrup or Chuan Bei Pear water. If yellow sputum appears, it may indicate a bacterial infection and should be treated with antibiotics such as cefixime or cefaclor simultaneously.