Common Cold

Overview

The all-too-common cold

More than 200 different viruses are responsible for what we call the common cold. But regardless of the speciful culprit, the course is the same: You get sick. You get tired muscles, a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and headaches. Throughout the year, you may catch between two to four colds — for kids it's more like eight to 12.

Detailed Description

Less serious than the flu, colds plague people year round, though they are most common during late fall, winter, and early spring. Typically, colds start to exhibit symptoms one to three days after infection. A cold begins with a sore throat and discomfort in the nose. As the cold progresses you'll start sneezing, coughing, developing a runny nose, and feeling generally ill. Sometimes a slight fever may develop when symptoms start surfacing. Initially, secretions from the nose are clear and watery; as the cold progresses they tend to become thick, opaque, and yellow-green in color.

Most cold viruses — all 200-plus of them — are quite contagious via the air — when someone coughs or sneezes — and direct contact with fingers or tissues that have been exposed to the virus. It is very important to try to limit this type of contact when suffering from a cold.

Most adults battle a cold two to four times a year. This number can increase for those working in a school or healthcare environment as well as those with small children. Children may experience up to eight to 12 colds per year.

The best way to treat colds is with rest, fluids, and chicken soup. Yes, the chicken-soup connection has finally been studied, and chicken soup (the spicier the better, so toss in a few hot peppers) does indeed help treat the symptoms of the common cold. So curl up with a warm blanket and a hot bowl of soup, followed by a nice long nap. You'll be back on your way to being healthy in no time. Antibiotics have no place in the treatment of viral infections.

If symptoms persist beyond two weeks or get worse, it may be necessary to consult your doctor as you may be dealing with a bacterial rather than a viral infection. Some colds can lead to a bacterial infection of the ears, sinuses, windpipe, and airways. These infections may require antibiotic treatment. Individuals with persistent bronchitis or asthma may find breathing more difficult when dealing with a cold, and thus may need earlier attention from their doctor.

It is still unknown why some people get colds and others don't. People experiencing fatigue or emotional distress are more likely to contract a cold, as are those with poor hygiene. It is believed that the best way to prevent a cold is to get adequate rest and remember to wash your hands frequently.

Characteristics of the Common Cold

Most colds start with a sore throat and discomfort in the nose. As the cold progresses you'll start sneezing, coughing, develop a runny nose, and feeling generally ill. Sometimes a slight fever may develop when symptoms start surfacing. Initially, secretions from the nose are clear and watery; as the cold progresses they tend to become thick and opaque.

How Common Is the Common Cold?

The name says it all. Colds occur most frequently during the winter season. All ages are affected, with children being most susceptible. Both sexes are equally likely to catch a cold.

What You Can Expect

Colds usually run their course in four to 10 days, though most people experience the cough for a bit longer as the body and cough reflex area recovers from the viral irritation to the tissues. Sometimes complications can arise such as bacterial infections of the ears, throat, sinuses, or lungs that require medical attention and antibiotics. Other signs that you should see a doctor:

• Difficult or painful breathing
• Persistent fever and chills
• Earache
• Severe headache
• Enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the neck

Cold medications and cough suppressants can make you more comfortable during the course of a normal cold, but they cannot "cure" a cold. There is no cure for the common cold.

Conventional Treatment

Goals of Treatment

There is no known cure for the common cold. However, the symptoms of a cold can be treated with a variety of over-the-counter cold medications — that can help loosen mucus secretions, soothe the nose and throat, and may strengthen the immune system — in addition to rest and plenty of fluids.

Treatment Options

When dealing with a cold, the best thing you can do is rest, stay warm and comfortable, drink plenty of fluids, and let your immune system do its work. The immune system works best when our bodies are at rest — ideally, in a sleep state. The more rest, the better. Fluids have several benefits. Viruses thrive when the membranes of the respiratory tract become dehydrated. By drinking plenty of fluids, you prevent dehydration and decrease the chance of infection. Proper fluids also aid the white blood cells as well as keeping mucus thin and loose. Viral infection is repelled by a moist respiratory tract, and drinking liquids also improves white blood cell function. Keep sugar intake at a minimum. Avoid milk, as it can thicken secretions.

To help ease your symptoms you can also try gargling with warm, salty water soothes a sore throat. Sucking on hard candy helps keep it lubricated.

Current Therapies Available

There are many over-the-counter medications that are known to help reduce the symptoms of a common cold. Various tablets, capsules, syrups, sprays, rubs, and liquids can help reduce fevers and treat sore throat, congestion, cough, runny nose, and sneezing.

• Topical decongestants help break down congestion and promote drainage
• Topical anticholinergics help control rhinorrhea (runny nose) but offer no relief from sneezing or nasal congestion
• Oral decongestants help break down congestion and promote drainage; oral decongestants tend to work longer than topical anticholinergenics
• Antihistamines help alleviate sneezing as well as drying out mucus; their sedative qualities have also been known to help promote rest
• Cough suppressants subdue coughs and have the added benefit of sometimes encouraging drowsiness so that you can rest
• Expectorants are sometimes selected when a patient wants to cough up the mucus accumulating in the lungs

Coughing may, in some cases, be the only way to clear secretions and other debris from the airways during a cold. For this reason, some say it is wise to leave a cough untreated unless it interferes with sleep or is causing great discomfort. Vaporizers and cool-mist humidifiers can be used to increase air moisture to assist in loosening mucus and reducing chest tightness. Acetaminophen (such as Tylenol), ibuprofen (such as Advil) and aspirin may be used to reduce fever. Do not give aspirin to anyone under 18 years of age during a viral infection due to an increased risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially life-threatening disorder. Before you self-medicate with over-the-counter cold and cough medications, check with your doctor. Some are contraindicated if you have heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes, or in older men with prostate problems.

Drug Therapy

Drugs most commonly prescribed

Various tablets, capsules, syrups, sprays, rubs, and liquids can help in treating sore throat, congestion, cough, runny nose, sneezing, and fever. Nonprescription, over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used to alleviate aches. Aspirin may also be used, but not for children under 18 experiencing a viral infection. Antihistamines are effective in relieving sneezing. Cough suppressants such as codeine and dextromethorphan alleviate nonproductive coughs. Avoid using nasal decongestants and drops for more than a few days to prevent possible side effects and rebound congestion. Sprays are preferred for children over six. Antibiotics will not speed up treatment, but may be taken in the infrequent case of a secondary bacterial infection. Otherwise they may cause unwanted and unnecessary side effects with no benefit.

Activity and Diet Recommendations

It is important to emphasize the importance of rest in dealing with a cold. The immune system functions at its peak when our bodies are at rest. Vigorous activities should be avoided, but if you feel up to it, light activities are OK. Again, avoid dehydration. It should also be noted that due to the contagious nature of the common cold, physical contact with others should be limited. Frequent hand-washing is also recommended to prevent spreading the virus.

Fluids are the key to your diet when you have a cold. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids, but avoid milk since it may thicken mucus secretions. Also avoid liquids containing high amounts of sugar in any form, including the following:

• Glucose
• Fructose
• Sucrose
• Honey

It has been shown that sugar greatly reduces the white blood cells' ability to fight and kill bacteria. Contrary to popular belief, orange juice is one of the biggest no-no's when dealing with a cold. The high levels of sugar greatly counteract any benefit from the vitamin C present in the juice.

Hot liquids help treat a cold by thinning mucus and clearing congestion. The classic remedy of chicken soup has actually been confirmed in medical studies to ease cold symptoms.

Managing Common Cold Treatment
To prevent further irritation and prolonged symptoms, avoid smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke during a cold.

Monitoring the Condition
Recovery generally occurs spontaneously after seven to 10 days. Contact your doctor if symptoms continue to worsen.

Possible Complications
Secondary bacterial infections of other areas such as the ears, throats, sinuses, or lungs may sometimes occur. In these cases, an antibiotic is prescribed. Colds are often further complicated in individuals with a history of chronic respiratory disorders such as asthma and emphysema, as well as chronic congestive heart failure, diabetes, or cancer.

Quality of Life

With proper treatment, a cold will only have a minor, short-term effect on your day-to-day life. However, if precautions such as rest and drinking plenty of fluids are not taken, you increase your chances of acquiring a secondary infection. These secondary infections may require antibiotics and increase the amount of "downtime" needed to fight a cold.

Considerations for Women

Pregnancy
Codeine may pose a risk to the fetus. Consult your doctor before taking any medication while pregnant.

Considerations for Children and Adolescents

Children are especially susceptible to the common cold. In the case of fever, acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be used. Do not give aspirin to anyone under 18 years of age during a viral infection. This could increase the risk of Reye's syndrome, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening disorder.

For babies too young to blow their noses, an infant nasal aspirator or bulb syringe may be used. If mucus is thick and sticky it may be loosened by using two or three drops of salt water solution (1/4 teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water). Tissues and swabs may be used to remove discharge from the nose — however, do not insert cotton swabs into a child's nostrils.

Very young children and infants may gain relief by sleeping on their backs. Upright or propped sleep may help babies with cold symptoms — in a car seat, for instance. This position may improve nasal drainage and breathing.

Considerations for Older People

Any medication use should be monitored carefully, since even over-the-counter drugs are more likely to cause adverse effects in older individuals. Colds are more serious in older people due to weakened immune systems caused by age.