Question
If a child has a cold with fever and cough, can they drink milk? Additional Question: A 5-year-old child has been drinking milk due to calcium deficiency. I want to know if they should continue drinking milk during their illness?
Answer
When a baby has a cold, it’s best to avoid giving them fatty foods like fish, crab, shrimp, and meat, as well as spicy foods like chili, pepper, ginger, and scallions, which can irritate the respiratory tract. You can give the baby some nourishing foods that are good for strengthening the spleen and moistening the lungs, such as glutinous rice, silver ear mushrooms, black fungus, white carrots, lilies, and yams. Encourage the baby to drink plenty of water and consume appropriate amounts of eggs and fresh vegetables to supplement nutrition and boost immunity. If the baby develops coughing or wheezing symptoms, avoid giving them carbonated drinks and reduce their intake of fruits high in sugar content, such as apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, and persimmons, to prevent exacerbating their symptoms.