Cold.

As the name suggests, this is a   very common health ailment and accounts for the most number of absentees from school and work. By itself, Cold is not a dangerous problem, but the  complications of cold can be serious.

Common Cold.

It is said that that if you take Remedies for Cold, you will be cured within one week, and if you don’t take Medicines for Cold, you will be cured within seven days. This only goes to affirm that cold is self limiting, and the treatment is only symptomatic. (for relief of symptoms). This is because common cold is caused by the Cold Virus and there is no cure for the cold  virus infection. The cold virus infection is self limiting.

Causes of  Cold.

There are more than 200 viruses that can cause cold. The most common virus that causes cold is the rhinovirus. As we all know, there is no medicine that can kill the virus and therefore, as mentioned above, treatment can only  be  to get relief from the Symptoms of Cold.

How You catch Cold.

• Cold can spread by direct contact with a person whose hands may have the secretions from his cold infected nose..
• Since viruses can live on inanimate objects, any contact with objects of the infected person can help in transmission of the virus. These objects may be a  handkerchief, or a pen or a glass or such thing that people often touch.
• When a person having cold sneezes,  the cold viruses are released into the air and the person close to him may breathe in these viruses and catch cold.

However, it is not necessary that every person exposed, as mentioned above, will contract cold. It will depend on the virulence (strength) of the cold virus, and resistance of the person exposed.

Relation of cold to weather.

Cold is often seen more, during the winter and rainy season. The reason attributed to this, is that people stay indoors more during these seasons and come in close proximity to each other, thus facilitating the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of Cold.

The symptoms of common cold are not serious but can be irritating. They are;

• Running nose.
• Irritation in the throat.
• Headache
• Cough.
• Low grade Fever and body ache.

Complications of  Cold.

Complications of Common Cold are seen when the infection spreads from the nasal area to  the bronchi. Viral infection often gets superimposed by the bacterial infection due to the fall of resistance of the patient and this adds to the severity of the infection.

• Otitis media is the infection of the middle ear caused typically by the spread of the infection from the nasal area to the middle ear through the Eustachian  tube.
• Pharyngitis (sore throat) is caused by the super added streptococcal infection.
• Laryngitis is infection of the larynx or the voice box.
• Spread of Infection to the lungs can result in bronchitis, pneumonia, and bronchial asthma.
• Sinusitis wherein the infection spreads to the sinuses and causes headache and blockage of the nasal airway.

Treatment of Cold.

Treatment of Common Cold is mainly symptomatic and treatment of  superadded  bacterial infection, if present.

• Anti pyretic medicines for fever.
• Anti inflammatory medicines like Ibuprofen for inflammation of throat
• Decongestants in the form of drops or sprays to relieve congestion. This treatment is to be used only for a few days as prolonged use can damage the nasal mucosa and give rise to chronic inflammation.
• Cough syrups for relief from cough.
• Anti histamines for relief of allergic symptoms.
• Antibiotics to treat any superadded bacterial infection if present. However, this is to be taken on advice of your medical practitioner.

Important Note: Children below the age of 2 years should not be given any of  the OTC medicines mentioned above as serious complications can occur.  They should be treated under medical supervision only.

How to Prevent Cold.

Follow these simple steps to prevent catching cold.

• If you have come in contact with a person having cold, keep a safe distance from him.
• Do not use any objects which are being used by a person having cold, such as pens, cups, etc.
• All family members should wash their hands several times a day with soap or disinfectant.
• Keep the utensils in the house properly  washed  and scrubbed, especially when somebody in the house has cold.
• Use tissues which can be thrown away after use.
• Keep your house well ventilated.
• If you smoke, refrain from it as you become more prone to cold.
• Keep your  family’s  body resistance high. Make it a family habit of drinking lemon or orange juices everyday. These citrus fruits contain Vitamin C which helps in increasing body  resistance.

Natural remedies for Common Cold:

• A glass of lemon juice mixed with one or two tablespoons (as per your taste) of honey. Lemon contains Vitamin C which increases body resistance and honey has anti septic and anti oxidant properties.
• Steam inhalation through nose and mouth for clearing a stuffed nose and for fermenting a sore throat.
• Salt warm water gargling – again for fermenting the sore throat.
• A glass of hot milk with turmeric.  Milk helps by giving proper nutrition and increasing body resistance and turmeric is a natural anti septic and anti bacterial agent.
• A clove of garlic and onions with one of your meals will be helpful. They have anti bacterial and anti viral properties.
• Echinacea is a purple coloured flower and  has been found to be useful if taken at the onset of cold.

Echinacea flower.