| General Illness Information |
Medical Term: |
Upper
Respiratory Infection, URI |
|
Common name
|
Common Cold |
| Description: |
A contagious viral infection of the
upper-respiratory passages
|
| Causes: |
|
Any of at least 100
viruses. Virus particles spread through the air or from
person-to-person contact, especially hand-shaking.
|
|
| Prevention: |
|
* Wash hands frequently,
especially after blowing your nose or handling food.
|
|
* To prevent spreading a
cold to others, avoid unnecessary contact during the
contagious phase (first 2 to 4 days).
|
|
* 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.
|
Some herbal supplements such as Echinacea,
Goldenseal are popular as preventives. |
| Signs
& Symptoms |
|
|
* Aches and pains.
|
|
* Runny or stuffy
nose. Nasal discharge is watery at first, then becomes
thick and yellow.
|
|
* Sore throat.
|
|
* Hoarseness.
|
|
* Cough that
produces little or no sputum.
|
|
* Low fever or no
fever.
|
|
* Fatigue.
|
|
* Watery eyes.
|
|
* Appetite loss.
|
|
|
| Risk Factors |
|
Exposure to
infected individuals
Touching one's nose
or conjunctiva with contaminated fingers
|
| Diagnosis & Treatment |
|
This is a clinical diagnosis.
No
specific tests are necessary.
|
| General
Measures: |
|
|
Use a cool-mist,
ultrasonic humidifier to increase air moisture. Clean
humidifier every day.
|
|
For a baby too
young to blow his nose, use an infant nasal aspirator.
If mucus is thick and sticky, loosen it by putting 2
or 3 drops of salt solution 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.
|
|
|
| Medications: |
|
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 sprays, cough
remedies and throat lozenges. Some herbal supplements such as Echinacea/Goldenseal
may help in alleviating symptoms.
|
|
| Activity: |
|
Bed
rest is not necessary, but avoid vigorous activity. Rest
often.
|
|
| Diet: |
|
Regular
diet. Drink extra fluids, including water, fruit juice, tea
and carbonated drinks. |
|
| Possible
Complications : |
|
Lower respiratory tract
infection
Bronchial
hyperreactivity
May lead to exacerbation
in patients with asthma and chronic lung disease
Otitis media (2% of
colds)
Acute sinusitis (0.5% of
colds)
Pneumonia
Rhinitis medicamentosa
(from over use of nasal sprays)
|
|
| Prognosis |
|
Excellent.
|
| Other |
|
|
|
|