Question
A 31-month-old baby started showing symptoms of clear nasal discharge on February 29th, and the parents gave him pediatric granules for treatment. However, by March 3rd evening, the baby began to have a fever, cough, rapid breathing, hoarseness, and clear nasal discharge. On the 4th, the parents took the baby to see an expert, who diagnosed it with bronchitis and provided two days of intravenous infusion, ibuprofen suspension, and Shuanghuanglian granules for treatment. On the 5th, the baby’s condition did not improve; the hoarseness was still severe, so they were referred to another hospital where it was diagnosed as acute laryngitis. A shot of dexamethasone was administered, and Erythromycin was prescribed. That night, after the baby fell asleep, his body temperature rose again, and his cough persisted. On the 7th, the fever subsided, but there was still a small amount of clear nasal discharge, difficulty expectorating phlegm, decreased appetite, and a white tongue coating. The parents asked what illness the baby had contracted, whether further imaging tests were needed for confirmation, and how to expectorate phlegm and control irregular fevers.
Answer
The baby indeed developed an upper respiratory tract infection after catching a cold. These symptoms are typical of upper respiratory tract infections and may also affect gastrointestinal function. The baby’s constitution may be weak; therefore, it is recommended to take some traditional Chinese medicine such as Xiangsha Yangwei Pill and Qingfei Liangxue Tablet to improve gastrointestinal function and cool heat. To determine whether a lung infection has been triggered