Common Cold

We all frequently get affected by the common cold during our lives, and it’s a simple condition that, in most cases, doesn’t lead to other complications despite its annoying and sometimes painful symptoms.

Common cold

The common cold is a viral infection that affects the nose, throat, sinuses, and trachea. It’s called the common cold because it’s extremely common worldwide and affects all ages. It impacts adults 2-3 times a year, while children and babies get it more than that.

Causes of common cold

• Common cold occurs due to more than 200 types of viruses, but about 50% of cases occur due to rhinovirus.
• The common cold is very contagious, and it transmits by using the patient’s tools, droplets in the air when the patient sneezes or coughs, and touching the nose, eyes, or mouth after the hand gets contaminated with the virus.
• The risk of having a common cold increases if the person has weak immunity, is smoking, in winter and fall, and is in crowded places.

Symptoms of common cold

The symptoms of the common cold usually appear in stages, and they could differ between adults and babies.

Early stage symptoms (1-3 days):

• Runny nose.
• Cough.
• Sneezing.
• Nasal congestion.
• Hoarseness.

Second or active stage symptoms (4-7 days):

• Headache and tiredness.
• Body aches.
• Runny nose and eyes.
• Fever.

Third stage symptoms (8-10 days):

• The symptoms start to wear off, yet some mild ones might stay.
• Cough might persist for two months in some cases.

Symptoms in babies:

• Runny nose with clear or sometimes green or yellow discharges.
• Fever 38.8-38.9 C˚.
• Sneezing and coughing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Difficulty swallowing, which causes increased drooling.
• Irritability.
• Mild swelling in the glands.

Complications of common cold

• Sinusitis.
• Middle ear infection.
• Asthma triggering.
• In some cases, a cold might lead to bronchitis or pneumonia.

Diagnosis of common cold

• In most of the cases, having a common cold doesn’t require going to the doctor unless the symptoms get worse.
• It’s diagnosed with a physical examination and asking about the symptoms.

Treatment of common cold

It’s managed through:

• Resting and drinking warm fluids.
• Using saline nasal rinses.
• Using specific medications to relieve some symptoms, such as antipyretics and painkillers, decongestants, and cough suppressants.
• Don’t use any other drugs without consulting with the doctor, especially antibiotics, because they’re not used for these conditions.

Prevention of common cold

• Frequently wash your hands and practice good hygiene
• Leave spaces between you and sick people.
• Don’t share your eating utensils and personal tools with anyone.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover your nose and mouth
• Don’t touch your face before washing the hands.