Question
My child has been sneezing severely, averaging two or three sneezes every twenty minutes. They feel congested with mucus but can’t seem to blow it out. Their nose is very stuffy upon waking up, which improves after a while. Phlegm is white and somewhat translucent, with a bit more than usual. Appetite has decreased but they are still in good spirits. Urine is yellow and stool is slightly dry. They have had pertussis before and now have a bit of a hoarse voice, which is not noticeable when sleeping or at rest. Onset time and cause: Family member with fever and cold, suspecting transmission. Sick for two days. Treatment status: Used Ai Xiang and Yi Tan Jing, no significant improvement. Seeking assistance: Unsure if the child has wind-heat or wind-cold cold; have An’er Ning and cefixime at home but hesitate to give to the child. Unsure about medication usage and whether to go to the hospital for injections.
Answer
If a baby sneezes with clear nasal discharge, it indicates that they have caught a common cold, which is in the early stages of the illness. Do not give the baby medicine at this point; instead, you can prepare a bowl of red sugar ginger water to expel the cold, which can be very helpful in relieving the baby’s sneezing symptoms caused by catching a cold. If the cold symptoms are severe, you can give the baby some traditional Chinese medicine for treating children’s colds, such as children’s cold syrup, banlangen syrup, ribavirin granules, and Xiao Chaihu granules. If symptoms do not improve after taking medication or if there is a tendency for worsening, it is important to see a doctor promptly.