Common Cold
Introduction / Overview
The common cold is an infection of the throat and nose caused by a virus. Most people get a cold a couple of times each year, especially in winter, but school children can have up to ten every year. The common cold virus is easily transferred from one person to another.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Common cold symptoms may vary but you are bound to have several with every cold. The first signs can be a sore throat, sneezing and a runny nose. Other common cold symptoms include watering eyes, a cough, slight fever, tiredness, an achy body and congestion. Most people do not need to see a doctor for the common cold, but if you have a high fever, ear ache, sweating, chills and excessive coughing, you might want a doctor’s diagnosis.
Known Causes
There are well over two hundred viruses which cause the common cold. The one most often blamed is the rhinovirus. The common cold virus is easily passed from one person to another through the air and through hand-to-hand contact with someone who has the virus or from touching an object they touched.
Treatments / Procedures
A cure for the common cold does not exist. Many people use over-the-counter medications to alleviate some of the symptoms but many of these are not recommended by doctors. Aspirin, for example, should never be given to children for pain because it causes a disease called Reye’s syndrome. Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is often taken for colds but it can cause liver damage if overused. People often take cough syrups and decongestants but these have little effect and should never be used with small children. A cold should run its course and disappear naturally in two to three weeks at the most.
Prevention / Vaccination
The common cold cannot be prevented with a vaccine. There are a few simple things you can do to try to prevent getting a cold. The most important one is to wash your hands frequently. Also use an alcohol-based hand wipe when you cannot wash your hands. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze to prevent spreading the common cold virus. When it’s possible, avoid being around people who have the common cold. Also, don’t drink or eat out of the same dishes or containers. Keep your house clean, especially kitchen and bathroom areas.
Prognosis / Management
There are several things you can do to manage a cold. The first one is to drink a lot of fluids. Water is a great choice as is orange juice, which has vitamin C. Using a humidifier or vaporizer can help relieve congestion as can saline nasal drops. Chicken soup can help to alleviate swelling and clear the nose as well. Mouth rinses can soothe sore throats.
Alternative Treatments & Products
While neither conventional nor alternative treatments can cure the common cold, there are some common cold remedies, such vitamins, minerals and herbs which can provide a little relief from common cold symptoms. One of the most-used herbs is echinacea, also known as purple coneflower. The aboveground parts and the roots are both used to make extracts, teas and juices. Research studies are currently being completed on the effectiveness of echinacea. Vitamin C is thought to get rid of a colder faster if you take a 6 gram dose a day.