Everything about Common Cold: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention

The common cold is one of the most common illnesses in the world. Adults catch a common cold around 2–3 times a year, and children catch a common cold more than adults.

It passes down from one person to another through touch and air, which is very contagious. Measures to prevent colds are very easy. As the ease of spread is very easy, so are the available measures to prevent its spread. Colds are often confused with the flu. The basic and strong difference between them is the cold has the same symptoms as the flu but in a mild form.

Causes of the common cold

• Around 50% of the common cold is due to rhinoviruses. More than 100 varieties of rhinovirus exist.
• It is The reason it is called the common cold is that there are more than one billion cold types.
• Common colds occur at any time of the year but more commonly in winter.
• The cold in a family passes on from children to elders, as the common cold occurs more frequently in children.
• Any person suffering from a cold is a potential lead to spread cold in the initial 2–3 days but is less contagious after or near to 1 week.
• A more severe form of the common cold is due to influenza, asthma, and bronchitis.

Symptoms of the common cold

The symptoms of a cold appear after 2–3 days of infection with the virus. Sometimes it takes up to a week to show the disease spectrum. Symptoms are usually confined to the nose:

• Nasal congestion
• Runny nose
• Scratchy throat
• Sneezing

Adults and older children show feverish symptoms. But, young children show fever that ranges from 100 to 102 deg.

Based on the virus which causes the common cold, symptoms vary

• Cough
• Decreased appetite
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Post nasal drip
• Sore throat
• Decreased appetite

Read more– Home remedies for sore throat

What is the correlation between COVID-19 and cold?

Cold and COVID-19 are both caused by coronaviruses, but the COVID-19 coronavirus leads to a different type of common cold, which can be identified through symptoms. The unique symptoms of the COVID-19 coronavirus cold are

• Fevers
• Chills & shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of taste and smell
• Diarrhoea

Treatment for the common cold

• Rest at home for self-care & to prevent the spread to others
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Inhalation of steam to relieve the symptoms

Be careful while using vaporisers as it may lead to burns or accidents when you come in contact with breathing vaporisers.

Antibiotics or antivirals, both of them, are not indicated even when the common cold is severe.

Support & OTC medicines

Vitamin C and zinc work well for controlling the common cold. They are used as a support treatment only. Apart from this, several over-the-counter medicines like Vicks Vaporub, Vicks Inhaler, and Himalaya Cold Balm can be used. 

Other Common cold Medicines which are used in stubborn cases include

• Decongestants like Solvin decongestant, and Deconamin liquid help in relieving congestion.
• Anti-histamines aid in running nose examples, including Allercet cold, etc.
• NSAIDs help reduce pain during cold-related Pain relievers
• Expectorants help in pushing out phlegm & cold secretions by loosening the mucus
• Suppressants work by calming the dry throat.

Prevention of common cold

• The best way to prevent common colds is to keep your hands clean. Handwashing should be at least 20 seconds. This is approximately singing the Happy Birthday song twice in the head.
• Stop touching your face with your hands frequently.
• Lack of sleep will also lead to a weakened immune system, eventually leading to a cold.
• A sufficient amount of water and liquids should be consumed to keep yourself hydrated. This will help fight any common illnesses like the common cold.
• If the cold is due to some allergic reason, then the tolerance towards cold will be significantly less.
• Ensure the flu shots/vaccination are in place; this will ensure protection in harsh conditions like winter. In general, the flu shot is 65% effective.
• Eating foods rich in zinc, vitamin C, and probiotic foods will help you face the winter confidently.

Conclusion:

The common cold is probably the most common disease, which is why its name is “common cold”. The best way to handle it is through adopting preventive measures. In case you caught a cold, then ensure you take the proper treatment without unnecessarily burdening yourself with irrelevant medications.

You can get teleconsultation from our expert doctors at our online pharmacy when you place an order for medicine, or you can also download our Truemeds app. You can avail of branded and generic medicines by uploading your prescription on Truemeds. When ordering medicine online, you may save more money by selecting alternative or generic medicine advised by Truemed’s expert doctors. You can save up to 72% on your purchase and get free home delivery pan India.

Disclaimer– Truemeds’ sole intention is to ensure that customers have access to information that is accurate & trustworthy. However, the information here should not be used directly and it cannot act as a substitute for the advice of a doctor. The information provided is only to stay informed. The information on side effects, drug interactions or warnings, and alerts are not exhaustive. Please consult your doctor for the right advice on diseases & medication information.

References:

• https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/common-cold
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23391673/
• https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12342-common-cold