Most adults are likely to have common cold two to four times a year. The article tells how to deal with this frequent upper respiratory illness.

Common colds, which are prevalent especially during winter (or rainy season), are caused by viruses. There are more than 200 kinds of viruses, mostly rhinoviruses and coronaviruses, that cause common colds. That is why, even if a person acquired immunity from one cold infection, the same person can still be infected by the more than 199 other kinds of viruses.

The symptoms are sneezing, scratchy throat, stuffy nose and cough.

Contrary to common belief that a common cold is acquired in cold environment, the common cold is actually acquired in a warm environment that favors the growth of viruses, especially when the ventilation is poor. Exposure to cold and wet, however, can reduce one’s resistance to infection.

How It is Acquired

Depending on the type of virus infecting, common colds are acquired by droplet spray (when a person sneezes into your nose or eyes), by handshake or holding hands, or by touching infected inanimate objects and later touching one’s eyes or nose. The virus thrives for several hours on inanimate objects. It is not passed on by kissing.

How to Avoid

Based on the mode of transmission, the ways to avoid common cold will be to keep your distance when a person has a cold especially when he sneezes, to wash your hands often, to avoid touching your nose or eyes if you are in contact with a person who has colds, and to clean your surroundings (ex: tables, counter tops, door knobs) with disinfectant.

When you are infected, in order to avoid passing it to others, cover your nose when sneezing and dispose of the tissue properly, and wash your hands often as the viruses most likely stay in the hands.

Treatment

There is no cure for common colds. It is self-limiting, however. The infection, even if left untreated, usually heals after a few days to two weeks (one week on average).

Treatment of symptoms is to drink plenty of fluids or hot soup especially chicken soup. This will thin the mucus congestion and allow the airways to drain. Also, to get enough rest. When you are stressed, you will have lesser immunity to infection. So keeping yourself well-rested and well-nourished will help your recovery. Light meals are recommended.

Medications – like antihistamines, decongestants and pain relievers – to treat common colds are discouraged, since they thwart the body’s natural mechanisms for fighting the disease and they cause side effects. Moreover, some medications may be contraindicated in certain disease conditions (e.g., heart disease, asthma). So it is best to consult your physician as to which one you should use when necessary.

Antibiotics do not cure common colds, since the infection is viral. The antibiotics are used only when there is complication of bacterial infection.

Complications

Complications of common colds are ear infections, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. Care must be taken that cold infections do not linger any longer than usual, and to consult the physician when after feeling a little better, the cold gets worse or when higher fever develops or when cough worsens.

Common Colds vs Flu

Flu is caused by influenza virus.

The difference between common colds and flu is that fever is rare in colds while it is usually present in flu at high temperature. Moreover, headache and body aches, extreme exhaustion and fatigue are usually present in flu, as well as severe chest discomfort and dry cough.

Flu cannot be treated with antibiotics, but it can be treated with antiviral medicines and best prevented by annual vaccination.

References:

1) Schachter, Neil M.D. “The Good Doctor’s Guide to Colds and Flu.” Copyright 2005.

2) Kittel, Mary S. (Editor). “The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Colds and Flu.” Copyright 2000.

3) U.S. Department of Health and Services. “Is It a Cold or the Flu?” September 2005. 1 December 2007 <http://www.niaid.nih.gov/Publications/cold/sick.pdf>.