The common cold is an illness that affects the nose and throat. It is mostly harmless and is mainly caused by Viruses.
Adults may have two or three colds each year, while infants and young children may have colds more often.
Most people recover from a common cold within 7 to 10 days. Symptoms might last longer in smokers or anyone with underlying respiratory diseases. Usually, medical care is not required for a common cold. If symptoms don’t get improve or if they get worse
Illnesses of the nose and throat caused by germs are called upper respiratory tract infections.
Symptoms
Common cold symptoms often start 1 to 3 days after exposure to a cold virus. Symptoms vary in every individual which includes
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Sore or itchy throat.
- Cough.
- Sneezing.
- fatigue
- Slight body aches or a mild headache.
- Low-grade fever.
The mucus from your nose may start out clear and become thicker and yellow or green. This change is normal. It doesn’t mean that you have a bacterial illness.
When to see a doctor
For Adults
- Symptoms that get worse or do not get improve
- Fever > 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit that lasts more than three days.
- Fever returning after a fever-free period.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Intense sore throat, headache, or sinus pain.
For Children:
Most children with a common cold don’t need to see a healthcare provider. Get medical care right away if your child has any of the following:
- Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in newborns up to 12 weeks.
- Rising fever or fever lasting more than two days in a child of any age.
- More intense symptoms, such as headache, throat pain or cough.
- Trouble with breathing or wheezing.
- Ear pain.
- Fussiness or drowsiness that isn’t typical.
- No interest in eating.
Causes:
Many viruses can cause a common cold. Rhinoviruses are the most common among them.
A cold virus enters the body through the mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread by:
- Droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks.
- Hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold.
- Sharing objects with the virus on them, such as dishes, towels, toys or telephones.
- Touching your eyes, nose or mouth after contact with the virus.
Risk factors:
These factors can increase the chances of getting a cold:
- Age:Infants and young children have a higher risk of colds than other people.
- Weakened immune system: Having a long-term illness or weakened immune system increases your risk.
- Time of year: Both children and adults are more likely to get colds in fall and winter.
- Smoking: Smoking or being around smokers increases the risk of catching a cold.
- Exposure: Being in a crowded place increases the chance of getting a cold.
Complications:
These conditions can occur along with your cold:
- Middle ear infection: This is the swelling and build-up of fluids in the space behind the eardrum. A virus or bacteria may cause it. Typical signs and symptoms include ear aches or the return of a fever following a common cold.
- Asthma: A cold can trigger wheezing, even in people who don’t have asthma. For people with asthma, a cold can make it worse.
- Sinusitis:In adults or children, a common cold that lasts a while can lead to swelling and pain in the sinuses. These are air-filled spaces in the skull above the eyes and around the nose. A virus or bacteria may cause sinusitis.
- Other illnesses: A common cold can lead to illnesses of the lungs, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. People with underlying respiratory disease and weak immune systems are at higher risk.
Prevention
There’s no vaccine for the common cold. You can take these steps to slow the spread of the virus and prevent illness:
- Wash your hands: Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren’t available, Teach your children the importance of hand-washing. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Clean and disinfect: Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often. These include doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and kitchen and bathroom countertops.
- Cover your cough: Sneeze and cough into tissue paper. Throw away used tissues right away, and immediately wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow, and then wash your hands.
- Don’t share: Don’t share drinking glasses or silverware with other family members.
- Stay away from people with colds: Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold. Stay out of crowds when possible.
- Take care of yourself: Eat well, exercise daily and get plenty of sleep to help you stay healthy.
Diagnosis
Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their symptoms. Your care provider may take a nasal or throat swab to rule out other illnesses. A chest X-ray may be ordered to rule out lung pathology.
Treatment
There’s no cure for the common cold. Most cases of the common cold get better without treatment within 7 to 10 days. But a cough may last a few more days.
The best thing you can do is take care of yourself through conservative treatment
- Rest.
- Drink plenty of liquids.
- Humidify the air.
- Use saline nasal rinses.
Antibiotics do not treat cold viruses. They are used to treat illnesses caused by bacteria.
Pain relievers
OTC painkillers can lessen the discomfort of a sore throat, headache or fever.
For adults.
- Acetaminophen
- Ibuprofen
For children:
Guidelines for pain relief medicines for children include the following:
- Use children-strength, otc pain relievers. These include children’s acetaminophen ibuprofen
- For children younger than 3 months old, don’t use acetaminophen until your baby has been seen by a health care provider.
- Don’t give ibuprofen to a child younger than 6 months old or to children who are vomiting frequently.
- Use these medicines for the shortest span possible and follow label directions to avoid side effects.
- Call your healthcare provider if you have questions about the right dose.
Decongestant nasal sprays
For adults. Decongestant drops or sprays for up to five days
For children. Children <6 years not recommended.
Cough syrups
OTC cough and cold medicines are only for symptomatic relief of coughs and colds, not the underlying disease.
Lifestyle and home remedies
FOR SYMPTOMATIC RELIEF, try these tips:
- Drink plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water are good choices.
- Sip warm liquids. Chicken soup, tea, warm apple juice or other warm liquids can soothe a sore throat and loosen a stuffy nose. Honey may help coughs in adults and children who are > than 1 year of age. Take that in hot tea. Do not give honey to children < 1 year old because there is a risk of getting infant botulism.
- Rest. Rest as much as possible. Stay home from work or school
- Adjust your room’s temperature and humidity. Keep your room warm, but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier can help with stuffiness and coughing. Clean your humidifier as directed for prevention of the growth of bacteria and molds.
- Use a saltwater gargle. A saltwater gargle of warm water can help soothe a sore throat. Gargle the solution and then spit it out. Most children younger than 6 years aren’t able to gargle properly.
- Try other throat soothers. Use ice chips, lozenges or hard candy to soothe a sore throat.
- Try saline nasal drops or sprays. IT will keep the nasal passage moist and loosen mucus.
- Use a suction bulb for younger children. In infants and younger children, apply saline nasal drops, wait for a short period and then use a suction bulb to draw mucus out of each nostril. Insert the bulb syringe about 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
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