The Common Cold. Signs, Symptoms and Cures and Myths.

Picture A. Viruses similar to the ones which cause the common cold. Antibiotics do not kill viruses so do not take them.

The common cold is an inconvenience to the young and healthy. However, it could be life threatening to the very young, old disabled and the sick. We all know how it is spread and we all know how we get it. However, we do not know all the possible causes and all the possible reasons. In order to compile a comprehensive list of causes and common remedies I have do quite a bit of reading and combined it with my existing knowledge to compile this article.

Definition

Infection (usually viral) of upper and / lower Respiratory tract

Causative agents

Most commonly caused by the rhinovirus, more than 200 varieties are known. Parainfluenza and syncytial virus also cause the common cold. All these infections can cause Upper and lower respiratory tract infections.

Rhinoviruses cause about 35 percent of all adult colds and infections. These viruses are most active in early fall, spring, and summer. The optimal growing temperatures for these viruses are in the 90 degree Fahrenheit range, the temperature in the nose. Some scientists think coronaviruses cause a large percentage of all adult colds. These colds occur primarily in the winter and early spring seasons.The importance of coronaviruses as a cause of colds is hard to assess because they are difficult to grow in laboratory conditions.

Other bacteria and viruses which cause the common cold include: adenoviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, orthomyxoviruses (including influenza A and B viruses, which cause flu), paramyxoviruses (including several parainfluenza viruses), respiratory syncytial virus, and enteroviruses.

The causes of 30 to 50 % of colds remain unidentified because they are difficult to identify and treat. Not all causes are listed here.

Picture B; Children and Elderly are high risk patients from the common cold.

How is it spread?

The common cold is most contagious during the first 2 to 4 days following infection. It remains contagious for up to three weeks. It may be a good idea to stay at home so as to preventing it from spreading at your work place. This is more easily said than done.

Spread by droplet infection from the air we breathe. When we cough and sneeze we spread the virus particles up to 14 feet away, more in closed environments.

Touching the nose, mouth, skin or other contaminated surfaces can also cause the infection to spread.

More easily spread if the environment is closed. Buses, subway systems, aeroplanes and cars are excellent examples of closed environments in which the common cold spreads easily.

Colds are most contagious during the first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear, and may be contagious for up to 3 weeks. Your can catch a cold from person-to-person contact or by breathing in virus particles that are spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching skin or another surface contaminated with a rhinovirus can also spread a cold

Who is/are at risk?

1. The usual individuals at risk are the very young, the old and the chronically ill. Patients with underlying pathologies are also at high risk.
2. Consider yourself high risk if you are extremely exhausted and fatigued.
3. You are high at high risk if you are working long hours repeatedly without rest.
4. Improper dieting/eating increases your risk.
5. Generally lower levels of activity increase your risk of becoming infected with rhino virus.
6. If you are receiving cytotoxic treatment or radiotherapy you are at a higher risk.
7. Underlying pathologies like low cell count, anaemia, low WBC count and AIDS predispose one to the common cold.
8. Some congenital and allergic conditions weaken your resistances too.
9. Last but not least, general ill health.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Sniffles and sneezes – some get more of these than others.
2. Sore throat, sometimes, mistakenly called a “strep throat”. A “strep” throat is sore throat caused by a streptococcal infection.
3. Can be caused by a virus or a bacterial infection. Upper respiratory tract infection is the most common infectious disease in the United States. It is the number one reason children visit a doctor and stay at home from school.
4. Initially there may be an irritating cough, later this cough will worsen and most likely become an upper respiratory tract infection.
5. Headaches are commonly present.
6. Mild to severe fever is most often present as the symptoms get worse.
7. Feeling of fatigue, no energy to do anything and general lethargy.
8. Body and muscle aches are common.
9. There is severe loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting is some children.
10. Ear aches, with slight difficulty in hearing.
11. Pain is throat and difficulty in swallowing
12. Fever of 103 degree Fahrenheit (39.3 degrees Celsius)
13. Nasal discharge will initially be light yellow and then become green, and more mucoid.
14. The cough may become productive with greenish phlegm as the condition deteriorates.
15. Heart rate will rise to compensate for higher energy needs and elevated temperature.
16. Respiratory rate will invariably rise.
17. Patients who are asthmatics, suffer from COPD, diabetes, or other chronic disability must seek medical help early because their symptoms will be more severe.