One morning you get up and you feel your throat dry and scratchy. The next thing u know is that you are getting a temperature and a runny nose. These are all common symptoms of a person after catching a cold. The common cold is a contagious illness caused by a number of viruses. More than 200 types of viruses are known to be the cause of common cold. Namely, Rhino virus causes about 30%- 35% of the colds among adults and other less frequent cold causing virus are Coronavirus, Adenovirus, Respiratory syncytial virus and Para influenza virus.
SYMPTOMS:
Symptoms of a cold and their severity depends upon the type of the virus and usually show after two to three days and last for about 4 to 14 days with symptoms getting better and better. The signs and symptoms include:
Nasal stuffiness or runny nose.
Sore throat
Sneezing
Hoarse voice
Cough
Watery eyes
Fever
Headache
Body ache and fatigue
Medical name for such a condition is "Viral upper respiratory tract infection."
TRANSMISSION:
Cold is air borne and a person may catch it by coming in contact with contaminated inanimate objects or by shaking hands with an infected person who has just sneezed or coughed in his hands. It is air borne and the virus stays in air after an infected person has sneezed. The common cold viruses can live on objects like pens, books, telephones, computer, mobile phones and coffee cups for several hours. That is why it is more prevalent to travel among friends at school or family members. There is also a myth among people that cold is caught because of cold weather. This is not so, as during cold season people like to stay at home more and in closer vicinity to each other, there are more chances for a viral contamination.
FLU AND COMMON COLD:
Flu is a condition taken mistakenly as cold. Although its symptoms are very much alike with that of the common cold but it is an entirely different disease caused by a different virus called the influenza virus. The flu is a more severe condition with high fever, chills, muscle ache, dry cough and extreme weakness.
HOME REMEDIES:
The common cold actually has no cure. This is because it is caused by many different viruses. The only treatment is to wait and watch! The condition usually gets better in a week or so but some home remedies can be carried out to make the symptoms bearable. The home remedies are as easy as getting rest and drinking lots of fluids to avoid dehydration.
Throat lozenges, throat sprays, cough drops and cough syrups are good to relieve the pain. Gargling with warm saltwater help patients with sore throat. Saline nasal sprays may be used for nose and fever medications to lower high fevers if any. Vitamin C and zinc are also good at healing sore throats.
SHOULD ONE TAKE ANY ANTIBIOTIC?
Antibiotics are more specific to bacteria whereas, cold is caused by viruses. Use of antibiotics during cold sometimes causes serious allergic reactions which are sometimes fatal. Also use of antibiotics when not needed also causes resistance to other bacteria and thus giving a chance for other diseases to occur.
Home medication should never be taken rather if the condition becomes serious like vomiting, high persistent fever etc.
PREVENTION:
The best way to avoid cold is to take preventions against it which are as simple as washing hands frequently. It’s better not to share utensils with anyone such as disposable cups and spoons. Change of lifestyle is quiet important as it becomes the reason of many of the illness, so it’s better to quit smoking and exercise. Also stress management plays an important role in living a healthy life.
BY
Noor-Ul-Huda Ghori
BBC-0109-1026
INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY ( IMBB)