COMMON COLD

DESCRIPTION

A contagious viral infection of the upper-respiratory passages including the nose; throat; sinuses; ears; eustachian tubes trachea; bronchial tubes.

FREQUENT SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

• Runny or stuffy nose. Nasal discharge is watery at first, then becomes thick and yellow.
• Sore throat.
• Hoarseness.
• Cough that produces little or no septum.
• Low fever.
• Fatigue.
• Watering eyes.
• Appetite loss.

CAUSES

Any of at least 100 viruses. Virus prides spread through the air or from person-to-person contact, especially hand. shaking.

RISK INCREASES WITH

• Winter (colds are most frequent in cold weather).
• Children attending school or day care.
• Household member who has cold.
• Crowded or unsanitary living conditions.
• Infection may be facilitated by stress, fatigue or allergic disorders.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• To prevent spreading a cold to others, avoid unnecessary contact during the contagious phase (first 2 to 4 days).
• Wash hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose or before handling food.
• Avoid crowded places when possible, especially during the winter.
• Eating a well-balanced, healthy diet that includes plenty of citrus fruits and other sources of vitamin C.

EXPECTED OUTCOME

Spontaneous recovery in 7 to 14 days.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Bacterial infections of the ears, throat, sinuses or lungs.

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

• To relieve naval congestion, use saltwater drops (1/2 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of warm water).
• Use a cool-mist ultrasonic humidifier to increase air moisture. Clean humidifier daily.
• For a baby too young to blow his nose, use an infant naval aspirator. If mucus is thick and sticky, loosen it by putting 2 or 3 drops of salt solution (see above) into each nostril. Don't insert cotton swabs into a child's nostrils. Instead, catch the discharge outside the nostril on a tissue or swab, roll it around and pull the discharge out of the nose.

MEDICATION

• No medicine, including antibiotics, can cure the common cold. To relieve symptoms, you may use non-prescription drugs, such as acetaminophen, decongestants, nose drops or spays, cough remedies and throat lozenges.
• Vitamin C in large doses (up to 1000mg a day) may shorten duration.

ACTIVITY

Bed rest is not necessary-ssary, but avoid vigorous activity. Rest often.

DIET

Regular diet. Drink extra fluids, including water, fruit juice, tea and carbonated drinks.

NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF

The following occur during the illness:

• Increased throat pain, or white or yellow spots on the tonsils or other parts of the throat.
• Coughing episodes that last longer than intervals between coughing; cough that produces thick, yellow-green or gray sputum; cough that lasts longer than 10 days; or difficult or labored breathing between coughing bouts.
• You cannot distinguish a common cold from the flu.
• Fever that lasts several days or fever over 101°F (38.3°C).
• Shaking chills, chest pain or shortness of breath.
• Earache or headache.
• Skin rash; dusky blue or gray lips, skin or nail beds.
• Pain in the teeth or over the sinuses.
• Unusual lethargy or irritability.
• Delirium.
• Enlarged, tender glands in the neck.
• Inability to bottle-feed or breast-feed in an infant.