Colds (common cold)

What is a cold?

Symptoms of colds

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for colds

References

What is a cold?

A common cold (also known as nasopharyngitis, rhinopharyngitis, head cold, or just a cold) is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. The throat (pharyngitis), the sinuses (sinusitis), and the eyes (via conjunctivitis) are also frequently affected, with a common cold occasionally leading to viral pneumonia or secondary bacterial pneumonia.

The common cold is the most frequent infectious disease in humans with on average 2 - 3 infections per year in adults and up to 6 - 12 in children. Common colds are seasonal, occurring more frequently during winter - probably because people are in closer proximity to one another and the viruses are highly contagious.

A healthy adult should seldom if ever get a cold. Children may occasionally get colds and other infections as their immune system matures.

A cold typically lasts from 2 - 10 days, though it may continue for 3 weeks in those with weaker immune systems.

Over 200 different viruses can cause the common cold, with rhinoviruses are the most common. It is not possible to gain complete immunity because of the variety of viruses and their tendency for continuous mutation. Children are more susceptible because they have not had exposure to, and built up immunity to a variety of cold viruses.

The cold virus is usually transmitted via airborne droplets (aerosols), direct contact with infected nasal secretions, or contaminated objects.

Symptoms of colds

Symptoms are mostly due to the body's immune response to the viral infection rather than to tissue destruction by the virus. Symptoms usually begin within 16 hours of exposure.

• Blocked or runny nose.
• Sneezing.
• Coughing, dry cough (50% of cases).
• Sore throat (40% of cases).
• Headache.
• Mild fever (more common in infants and young children).
• Muscle ache.
• Loss of appetite.
• Reduced sense of taste and smell.

Prevention / remedies / cures / treatment for colds

• The Sugar Cure.
• Plenty of sleep and rest.
• Many people take over-the-counter medicines, and even antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals prescribed by a doctor, to mask the symptoms of a cold. Unfortunately most of these medications lower your resistance to further infections (particularly antibiotics), gradually increasing your dependence and ensuring more frequent infections in the future. In 2009, Canada restricted the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children under six years because of high risks and unproven benefits. (1) Antibiotics are useless against viral infections, so are of no use in treating the common cold.
• Drink a little more water than normal, at a tepid to warm temperature.
• Herbal teas and clear soups. Chicken soup made with bones and feet is a very effective traditional remedy. See the Grow Youthful Recipe Book.
• Gargle with warm salt water.
• Hand washing, especially by and around infected people.
• Zinc.
• Colloidal silver.
• Vitamin C, especially if obtained from foods such as berries, sour citrus and raw vegetables, rather than pills.
• Tea tree oil.
• See details of remedies recommended by Grow Youthful visitors, and their experience with them.

References

1. Shefrin AE, Goldman RD. Use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children. November 2009. Can Fam Physician 55 (11): 1081-3. PMC 2776795. PMID 19910592.