A cold is a contagious viral disease which infects the soft lining (mucous membrane) of the nose.
There are more than 200 different viruses which can result in a cold. The characteristic symptom is a runny nose.
Usually, it is a mild condition, recovery taking place within about a week. However, sometimes the same symptoms occur with other
illnesses like influenza. It is most common during the cold winter months and affects children and adults of all ages.
How do we catch a cold?
A person is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out until one to three days after he feel better.
The infection is spread by airborne droplets when the sufferer coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by hand if
someone has the virus on their hands and then puts them close to their eyes or nose. This is possibly the most common way of catching a cold.
Cause: The viruses
More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold.
Some, such as the rhinoviruses, seldom produce serious illnesses. Others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus,
produce mild infections in adults but can precipitate severe lower respiratory infections in young children.
Rhinoviruses (from the Greek rhin, meaning "nose") cause an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds, and are most active in early fall, spring, and summer. These agents grow best at temperatures of about 91 degrees Fahrenheit, the temperature inside the human nose.
Scientists think coronaviruses cause a large percentage of all adult colds. They bring on colds primarily in the winter and early spring. Of the more than 30 kinds, three or four infect humans.
The causes of 30 to 50 percent of adult colds, presumed to be viral, remain unidentified. The same viruses that produce colds in adults appear to cause colds in children. The relative importance of various viruses in pediatric colds, however, is unclear because it’s difficult to isolate the precise cause of symptoms in studies of children with colds.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the common cold usually begin 2 to 3 days after infection and often include
Mucus buildup in your nose
Difficulty breathing through your nose
Swelling of your sinuses
Sneezing
Sore throat
Cough
Headache
Fever is usually slight but can climb to 102 degrees Fahrenheit in infants and young children. Cold symptoms can last from 2 to 14 days, but like most people, you’ll probably recover in a week. If symptoms occur often or last much longer than 2 weeks, you might have an allergy rather than a cold.
Colds occasionally can lead to bacterial infections of your middle ear or sinuses, requiring treatment with antibiotics. High fever, significantly swollen glands, severe sinus pain, and a cough that produces mucus, may indicate a complication or more serious illness requiring a visit to your healthcare provider.
Treatment
The primary treatment -aspirin or acetaminophen, fluids, and rest- is purely symptomatic because the common cold has no cure. Aspirin eases myalgia and headache; fluids help loosen accumulated respiratory secretions and maintain hydration; and rest combats fatigue and weakness.
Home Treatment (Infants and Preschool-aged Children)
There are several steps that can be taken to make an infant or a small child with a cold more comfortable:
1: The nose can be cleared with a bulb syringe (ask your pediatrician).
2: Saltwater nose drops (made from a teaspoon of salt and eight ounces of warm water) may be soothing every few hours.
3: Warm humidified air can alleviate congestion.
4: Increase fluid intake
Home Care: Adolescents and Adults
1: Drink about eight glasses of fluid daily.
2: Get plenty of bedrest.
Prevention of Common Cold
Avoidance: Keep your distance from people who have colds, especially when they cough or sneeze. Additionally, avoid touching your nose or eyes. Viruses usually invade through the nasal mucous membranes, but if deposited in the eyes, they can also travel down through the tear ducts.
Diet: Take vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B12 and pantothenic acid, as well as the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium and zinc. Stay well hydrated. Drink lots of non-alcoholic fluids to help keep the mucous membranes moist.
Rest: Try not to get overly stressed or overly tired.
Good Hygiene: Wash your hands often, especially before eating and after going to the bathroom or being in contact with individuals with colds.
Written by:
Pallavi Sinha.(Dietician) Ask her your health related questions at pallavi[at]hungrybangalore[dot]com.
RSS Feed
