Common Cold - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Common Cold Definition

The common cold - an acute, usually afebrile viral infection. It may be caused by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The upper respiratory system includes the nose, throat, sinuses, eustachian tubes, trachea, larynx, and bronchial tubes. The common cold involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, cough.

Common cold is most common, however, among children. Repeated exposure to the viruses that cause colds helps to prevent against future occurrences of the disease. Common cold is also known as Cold, Upper Respiratory Infection - Viral.

Common Cold Causes

About 90% of colds stem from a viral infection of the upper respiratory passages and consequent mucous membrane inflammation; occasionally, colds result from a mycoplasmal infection. Children usually get colds from other childrens, who has a common cold. When a new strain is introduced into a school or day care, it quickly travels through the class. The most common groups of viruses are rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Knowing which virus has caused a cold is not important because treatment does not depend on the type of virus.

Cold viruses can be passed from person to person through direct contact, such as shaking hands. Over two hundred different types of viruses may be caused a cold. There are over one billion colds in the United States each year.

Common Cold Symptoms

All symptoms may be usually gone within ten days. Sometimes a dry cough may linger for up to three weeks.

The symptoms of the common cold may be included:

• runny nose
• arthralgia
• headache
• malaise
• sneezing
• watery eyes
• postnasal drip
• sore throat
• cough
• lethargy
• muscle aches
• nasal congestion
• decreased appetitie

Common Cold Treatments

There are no medicines that will cure the common cold. Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. Antibiotics will not help and may make the cold worse.

Gargling with a mixture of water, salt and turmeric powder or other astringent, such as alum, sumac, sage, and bayberry to ease a sore throat is a best treatment.

You may also use zinc throat drops along with high doses of vitamin C.

The other medicines for the treatments of common cold may be:

• antihistamines.
• decongestants.
• pain relievers.