The cold is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limiting illness caused by any 1 of more than 200 viruses.
The common cold produces mild symptoms usually lasting only 5-10 days. In contrast, the flu (influenza), which is caused by a different class of virus, can have severe symptoms.
The most common complaints associated with the cold usually are mild and can be managed with over-the-counter cold medications you can buy at a drugstore or grocery store.
Symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, nasal and sinus blockage, headache, sore throat, and cough.
You usually do not need to call your doctor if you catch a cold. However, if symptoms become severe or you develop shaking chills, profuse sweating, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting or high fever (greater than 102F) you may have the flu virus, bacterial pneumonia, or another illness that should be reported to your doctor.
For mild-to-moderate cold symptoms, you usually do not need to see a doctor. Almost everything a doctor can prescribe to relieve the symptoms can be purchased without a prescription.
For more severe symptoms or a prolonged duration of symptoms, you should visit your doctor. An office visit will usually be fine. However, if you are extremely ill and seem to be getting worse, go to your closest hospitals emergency department to be seen immediately.
Of the viruses that cause a cold, the most commonly occurring subtype is a group that lives in the nasal passages known as the rhinovirus. Other less common cold viruses include coronavirus, adenovirus, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority of cold viruses do not spread through the air and seldom are transmitted from airborne particles expelled when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes.
The primary means of spreading a cold is through hand-to-hand contact or from objects that have been touched by someone with a cold.
The typical transmission occurs when a cold sufferer rubs his or her nose and then, shortly thereafter, shakes hands with someone who, in turn, touches his or her own nose or eyes.
Alternatively, virus transmission often occurs via doorknobs and other hard surfaces, such as subway handrails, grocery carts, office telephones, and computer keyboards.
Your symptoms and a physical examination are all your doctor needs to diagnose the common cold. An initial diagnosis often is made from your symptoms alone.
Usually, no blood tests or x-rays are necessary. During the physical examination, your doctor will pay careful attention to your head, neck, and chest. The doctor then examines your eyes, ears, throat, and chest to be sure that a bacterial source is not causing the illness.
To date, no specific cure has been found for the group of viruses that cause the common cold. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, and are of no use in treating a cold.
It seems unlikely that a single antiviral medication will be discovered in the near future that can target the over 200 different cold viruses. That is true in part because the viruses genetically change (mutate) each season just enough to prevent the development of a specific treatment for that virus.
The good news is that you can take several steps to alleviate the symptoms once you have contracted a virus.
Drink plenty of fluids to help break up your congestion.
Drinking water or juice will prevent dehydration and keep your throat moist. You should drink at least 8-10, 8-ounce cups of water daily. Fluids might include water, sports drinks, herbal teas, fruit drinks, or ginger ale. Your mothers chicken soup really can help.
You can give your children colas, but dont include them in the 8-10 cups of fluid per day. Cola, coffee, and other drinks with caffeine work to increase urine output when your goal is to increase fluids in your system.
Inhaled steam may ease your congestion and drippy nose. Hold your head over a pot of boiling water and breathe through your nose. Be careful.
If the steam burns your nose, breathe in more slowly. You can put a pot or teakettle on a trivet on a table and hold a towel around the steam and your head. You can buy a humidifier, but the steam will be the same. Moisture from a hot shower with the door closed, a saline nasal spray, or a room humidifier is just as useful.
Medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) will help decrease fever, sore throat pain, and relieve body aches. High fever usually is not associated with the common cold and may be indicative of the flu a more severe illness caused by an influenza virus. Report to your doctor any temperature greater than 102F.
Never give a child aspirin or medications containing aspirin. In children younger than 12 years, aspirin has been associated with Reye syndrome a potentially fatal liver disorder.
The cough is a reflex that occurs when your airway passages are irritated.
Cough preparations are usually divided into 2 main categories. Suppressants act by blocking your cough reflex. As a general rule, use a suppressant for a dry, hacking cough.
The agent usually found in over-the-counter cough suppressants is dextromethorphan (Benylin, Pertussin CS or DM, Robitussin Maximum Strength, Vicks 44 Cough Relief). Expectorants is a cough associated with excessive mucus production, or phlegm, warrants use of an expectorant. Guaifenesin is the most common active ingredient in over-the-counter expectorants (such as Anti-Tuss, Fenesin, Robitussin, Sinumist-SR).
Lozenges and topical sprays can provide relief from sore throat pain. In particular, lozenges containing zinc may relieve many cold symptoms better than other types of throat lozenges. The benefits of zinc are not proven, however, and it can cause stomach upset. A warm saltwater gargle can relieve a scratchy throat. Nasal decongestants help relieve clogged nasal and sinus passages caused by excessive mucus secretion.
Oral medications come in either pill or liquid form and act by shrinking engorged blood vessels in the nasal and sinus passages.
They work well because the medication is distributed in the bloodstream. Oral decongestants often are associated with stimulant side effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and insomnia. A commonly used over-the-counter oral decongestant is pseudoephedrine (Actifed, Sudafed, Triaminic).
Importantly, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a public health advisory concerning the medication phenylpropanolamine (PPA), which has been used for many years in over-the-counter nasal decongestants.
A recent study reported that PPA increases the risk of a bleeding stroke, primarily in women.
Although the risk of a bleeding stroke is low, the FDA recommends that PPA be discontinued and removed from all medications. Although most pharmacies have removed this product from their shelves, it is prudent to carefully examine the label to be sure that the medication you buy (or have at home) does not contain PPA.
Nasal spray decongestants act similarly to oral decongestants but have the advantage of acting only in the area applied, usually without the stimulant side effects. The most common active ingredient in nasal sprays is oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan nasal spray, Neo-Synephrine, Vicks Sinex).
Nasal sprays do have side effects, however.
Excessive use of nasal decongestants has been associated with dependency. Additionally, a rebound effect may occur in which nasal symptoms recur after you abruptly stop the medication. Use these no longer than the package instructions indicate usually 3 days.
Lastly, to prevent getting your next cold wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your nose and eyes, do not share utensils or towels at home and wear gloves during the winter cold season while in public places, such as public transportation.
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