Treatment and Management
Since the common cold is caused by a virus, there is no effective cure. All the interventions are aimed at reducing spread, making the patient comfortable and preventing other conditions for occurring.
Since there is a loss of lots of water by discharge from the nose, drinking plenty of fluids is advisable.
Picture C: Tylenol / Aspirin for symptom fever control is proven effective.
If the body aches, and the patient is feeling tired and exhausted, bed rest is advised.
Gargling with warm salt water gargles can be soothing to the throat. Lozenges may be used to sooth irritation in the throat.
Use aspirin/ acetaminophen to control headaches and or fevers.
If the nose becomes excoriated use petroleum jelly. Wipe nose with soft tissues only.
Aspirin use has been linked with Reye’s syndrome. Do not use aspirin for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years. The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that children and teenagers not be given aspirin or medicines containing aspirin during any viral illness. They cited the common cold as one such example.
There are many nonprescription cold remedies, including decongestants and cough suppressants, they have many names. They may relieve some cold symptoms but will not prevent or even shorten the length of your cold.
Many of these medications have side effects like drowsiness, dryness of the mouth and mucose. It is best to avoid these medications. Other medications cause dizziness, insomnia, and upset the stomache. Again it is best to avoid these.
Some antihistamines may provide relief from symptoms such as runny nose and watery eyes.
Never take antibiotics for the common cold. Antibiotics do not kill viruses.
Your patient should use prescription medicines only if he/she has a rare bacterial condition. If needed use antibiotics for sinusitis or ear infections. Patients should not use antibiotics "just in case" because they will not prevent bacterial infections.
Many patients say that steam helps. This is a comfort measure only, many experts have found that this approach is not an effective treatment.
The author is disappointed to say this but the truth is that the best option is to keep warm, stay at home and be comfortable.
Prevention focuses on preventing from getting the infections and passing one on to others, including family members. You and your family members can do the following to contain the infection:
Keep your hands away from your eyes and nose.
Avoid being close to those who have an infection.
If you have an infection avoid being close to others.
If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth andnose.
As is hospitals, hand washing with soap and water is the simplest and one of the most effective ways to keep from getting colds or giving them to others.
During cold season, you should wash your hands often and teach all your family members to do it too. When water is scarce use alcohol based products if available.
Cleaning infected areas might help reduce spread. The Rhinoviruses can live up to 3 hours on skin and can survive up to 3 hours on objects like telephones and railings.
Vaccination Programmes: Since many different viruses cause the common cold, the outlook for developing an effective vaccine is slim. Drug manufacturers and scientists continue to search for solutions to this and many other problems.
Unproven treatments/prevention methods
Echinacea - not proven to be effective. Best option, do not waste your time and money. A double blind study found that echinacea is not affective at all in treating children aged 2 to 11.
Vitamin C - Several large-scale, controlled studies involving children and adults have shown vitamin C prevent colds. The vitamin may reduce the severity or duration of symptoms, but there is no clear evidence that it is effective treatment.
Too much vitamin C can cause severe diarrhoea, a particular danger for elderly people and small children.
Smoking: Delays recovery.
Latest Research: a person is most likely to transmit rhinoviruses in the second to fourth day of infection, when the amount of virus in nasal secretions is highest.
Researchers have shown that using aspirin to treat colds increases the amount of virus in nasal secretions. This makes the cold sufferer more of a hazard to others around him / her.
