Explanation of Fever, Vomiting, and Other Symptoms in Cold

Fever and nausea are common symptoms of a cold. If the cold affects the digestive system, it can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Clinically, this is also known as a special type of upper respiratory infection, such as gastrointestinal cold. It is essential for patients to seek timely treatment and maintain clean and hygienic dietary habits, while also keeping the abdomen warm.

Let's delve into the reasons for fever, nausea, and vomiting during a cold:

Firstly, these symptoms often arise from a decrease in the body's immune function, allowing viruses, bacteria, mycoplasma, chlamydia, rickettsia, and other pathogens to invade. This leads to inflammatory reactions in the upper respiratory mucosa, causing congestion, edema, and the secretion of large amounts of inflammatory fluid, which gradually raises body temperature. Through associated lymphatic systems and lymph nodes, these infections can also affect the digestive system, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Clinically, this is also known as a special type of upper respiratory infection: gastrointestinal cold, which can be treated accordingly.

Secondly, fever in a cold often indicates a decrease in the body's ability to resist disease, primarily due to physical weakness. When the climate changes suddenly, the body's internal and external functions may not be able to adapt, allowing pathogens to enter through the skin and respiratory passages, causing a series of fever symptoms. Fever occurs when pyrogens directly act on the thermoregulatory center, causing dysfunction in temperature regulation or an imbalance between heat production and dissipation, resulting in a rise in body temperature above normal levels.

Fever can have both beneficial and harmful effects on the body. During fever, the immune function is significantly enhanced, which helps eliminate pathogens and promote recovery from illness. Therefore, it is not necessary to use fever-reducing medication when the temperature is not too high. Close monitoring of temperature changes is sufficient. However, if the temperature exceeds 38.5°C, it is advisable to take fever-reducing medication promptly.

Lastly, the symptoms of a cold vary but commonly include nasal congestion, sneezing, runny nose, throat discomfort, mild coughing, and fever of varying intensity. Approximately 70% of colds are caused by viruses such as influenza viruses (A, B, and C), parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, adenoviruses, rhinoviruses, echoviruses, coxsackieviruses, measles viruses, and rubella viruses. These symptoms typically manifest within 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus.