When the weather gets cold, many children are prone to catch a cold. How to distinguish a child's viral cold from a bacterial cold?

Generally speaking, if it is a virus infection, the symptoms of poisoning in children are relatively mild. Although they have a cold, their mental state is still relatively good; If it is a bacterial infection, the symptoms of children's systemic poisoning are more serious, and their mental health is often poor. If you are listless, you will feel very tired and can't move.

Symptoms of viral cold and bacterial cold The incidence of viral cold is relatively high, accounting for 80-90% of upper respiratory tract infections, mostly rhinovirus, coronavirus and adenovirus. Most of the symptoms are sneezing, runny nose, cough, a small amount of white sputum, itchy throat and acceptable spirit. In severe cases, high fever, chills and headaches may occur. It usually takes about 7 days to recover.

The incidence of bacterial cold is less, about 20-30%, which can occur alone or secondary to the decline of immunity caused by viral cold. Symptoms are mostly obvious sore throat, cough with yellow pus and phlegm, poor spirit and so on. Fever is mostly moderate to low fever, high fever is rare, irritability and so on. Physical examination showed tonsil congestion.

Generally speaking, viral infection will not cause inflammation, so the runny nose that flows out is generally clear, and the expectoration is few and very thin; If it is a bacterial infection, due to inflammation, nasal discharge is generally purulent, with more expectoration, and phlegm is generally yellow and purulent.

Laboratory results In clinic, we can judge viral cold and bacterial cold by some laboratory results. As long as the total number of white blood cells is low or normal, the proportion of lymphocytes is increased, and CRP and procalcitonin are normal, it indicates virus infection; As long as white blood cells rise, CRP rises and procalcitonin rises, it means there is bacterial infection.

How are viral colds and bacterial colds generally treated? When a child has a cold, the most important thing for parents is to learn to judge the severity of the cold. If the child's symptoms are mild and his mental state is ok, he can handle it at home; But if the symptoms are obvious and the mental state is poor, it is best to go to the hospital for treatment. If you can't tell the difference, go to the hospital for a blood test and let the doctor hear if there is pneumonia or something.

Some children always catch a cold repeatedly, and parents don't know what's going on, so they have to toss with their own experiences. It is best to go to the hospital, which may be allergic rhinitis. Of course, children's immunity is also low.

Conclusion In short, children with colds also need to be alert to the change of their condition. Many pneumonia is also the beginning of cold symptoms, and colds can also cause viral myocarditis, especially for babies with fever. We must rule out other serious infections. Don't think that a baby's fever is a common cold.