What is a cold?

A cold is a viral infectious disease that affects the upper respiratory tract. It is also known as acute viral rhinopharyngitis or an acute cold. Being the most common infectious disease in the world, the common cold is mainly caused by coronavirus or rhinovirus. What else you need to know about the common cold?

Read also: What is the flu?

Why do people suffer from colds?

The human body can not resist all viruses that can cause a cold. That's why the common cold is so common and constantly repeating. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children in the kindergarten suffer from colds on average 12 times a year, compared to adolescents and adults who suffer from a cold about seven times a year. These are very impressive figures. It's worth thinking about them.

What causes a cold?

A cold can be caused by more than 200 different types of viruses. Up to 50% of colds are caused by rhinoviruses that cause other colds: Parainfluenza virus

• Metapneumovirus
• Coronaviruses adenovirus
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Enteroviruses

When the virus manages to overcome the infection, the body's immune system becomes more powerful. The first line of defense of the body is slime, which is produced in the nose and throat (mucus is produced by glands). This mucus very much interferes with breathing. The mucus itself is a slippery liquid that is localized on the membranes of the nose, mouth, throat and vagina. This is the most common cold symptom in the cold winter months, which affects children and adults of all ages. Most people catch cold two to four times a year.

How can we catch a cold?

The incubation period of the cold lasts from 1 to 4 days. Infection is transmitted by airborne droplets when the patient coughs or sneezes. Infection can also spread due to dirty hands if you touch them to the nose or mouth, or eyes. This is probably the most common way to transmit the virus. Calling a cold.

What are the symptoms of a cold?

• A sore throat
• Sore throat when swallowing
• Sneezing
• The mucus during the rhinitis first resembles water, then the secretion of the mucus gradually becomes thicker and more yellow.
• When the mucous membrane of the nose swells, it may be difficult for a person to breathe through the nose

• Aching sensation or tinnitus
• Headache
• Cough
• Feeling of severe indisposition
• Heat
• Children are more prone to high temperature than adults.

Colds in children

Colds in children tend to go away on their own for several days. Cough supplements without a doctor's prescription are not recommended for children under six, as there is no evidence that they work. In addition, these drugs can cause side effects, such as allergic reactions, influence on baby sleep and increased fatigue.

If your child is suffering from high fever, you can give him paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve pain and reduce fever. If the child has a cough, you can give him a simple soothing cough syrup containing glycerin, honey and lemon. For children over the age of six other medications are needed - contact a doctor for advice. Any medicine for the baby should be administered with extreme caution. Cough syrups should be metered using a spoon or measuring cup so as not to exceed the dose.

For young children who have difficulty feeding because of nasal congestion, one can practice salt drops in the nose, which can be bought at pharmacies. Antipyretic agents can also be used for children with a stuffy nose.

You should avoid using more than one remedy for cough and cold, especially when treating symptoms in children. Different medications may contain the same active ingredients, and the use of more than one of them may result in exceeding the maximum recommended dose. Consult your doctor for more accurate prescriptions.

A cold is a disease that needs to be treated correctly. Therefore, in order to avoid complications due to this disease, you need to protect yourself and go to the doctor in time.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]

Possible complications of colds

Usually a cold does not cause serious trouble, and its symptoms stop within one to two weeks.

Possible complications include eye inflammation, sinusitis, middle ear inflammation, tonsillitis and pneumonia. The cause of these complications can be a bacterial infection that affects the irritated mucous membrane of the throat or nose.

Acute bronchitis

This disease occurs when the bronchi become inflamed as a result of either a bacterial or viral infection. Antibiotics can be used only if the infection is bacterial, and if it is viral, then antibiotics do not use. For a clearer diagnosis, sputum specimens are used, which physicians examine under a microscope to determine which bacteria caused bronchitis.

Symptoms of bronchitis are shortness of breath, shortness of breath, cough and sputum.

[7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]

Pneumonia

This is a condition in which the lungs are inflamed, but this time due to the filling of the alveoli with the infected fluid. Pneumonia can be caused by bacteria or viruses. However, the cold virus does not cause pneumonia. If pneumonia occurs due to a complication after a cold, then most likely it was caused by a bacterial pathogen. Patients with pneumonia are usually prescribed antibiotics.

Symptoms of pneumonia are chest pain, cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Acute bacterial sinusitis (sinusitis)

It is a disease in which the paranasal sinuses become infected with bacteria. You can use as a treatment for nasal and oral inhalers, but to treat this disease and prevent further spread of the infection, antibiotics are also needed. Otherwise, a cold can lead to bacterial meningitis.

Symptoms of sinusitis: headache, pain in the paranasal sinuses and discharge from the nose.

Other complications of colds can be:

• Bronchiolitis
• Croup
• Otitis media of middle ear
• Acute pharyngitis
• Asthma - her attacks are caused by a cold, especially in children.

People with these diseases can be particularly vulnerable to colds and take steps to not damage themselves, as this can worsen their condition:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is two diseases at once - emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Colds can aggravate emphysema or chronic bronchitis, which leads to increased coughing and shortness of breath. Sometimes a bacterial infection can cause fever, and then the patient will need to take antibiotics.

[14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20]

How to behave during a cold?

Against the common cold there are no unique effective treatments to make it go faster. If a patient has no other illnesses than a common cold, and it passes in just one or two weeks, there is no reason to contact a doctor.

It is worth knowing that if a cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not suitable for treatment.

• Make sure that you drink a lot of non-alcoholic liquids, ideally it should be purified water - this is especially important for children. Many cold symptoms pass much faster after taking warm drinks.
• Sleep on a high pillow.
• With a cold, there is no need to change your daily activities. But you should know that with colds you will get tired much quicker. Therefore, rest more. And children with colds, too, need to rest more.
• Avoid smoking. It irritates the nasal mucosa even more.

Nasal congestion and chest cough can be alleviated with the help of steam inhalations that help make these mucus more fluid and ease the symptoms of the common cold. Sit comfortably and tilt your head over a bowl of hot water, put a towel over your head, close your eyes and breathe in deeply. Very effective method of getting rid of the common cold. True, this method is not recommended for children because of the risk of burns.

Symptoms such as cough, sore throat, nasal congestion and headache can be alleviated by using various nasal drugs and over-the-counter medications that can help ease breathing. It is advisable to consult a doctor, which drugs are most suitable for you and your symptoms.

What can you do to avoid a cold?

• If possible, stay away from people with colds.
• Avoid crowded places where the risk of contracting a cold is much higher
• Do not touch the nose or eyes after you have been in physical contact with a person who has a cold
• Wash your hands thoroughly, especially during a cold
• Well ventilate your room