Colds
Common cold is a rare common venous disease that affects the nose, throat, sinus, and upper respiratory tract, and usually disappears on its own within one to two weeks of infection. There are more than 200 types of viruses that can cause a person to get colds, but the most common is a cold caused by a person with rhinovirus, the virus responsible for at least 50% of cases of colds, and other viruses that cause colds : Corona virus, Respiratory Syncytial Virus, Fluenza Virus, and Parainfluenza viruse.
Cure for colds
In the treatment of colds, there is no cure for it, so that the person will recover from the cold on his own with time, but some home remedies and medicines to alleviate the symptoms suffered by the patient during the fight against the body of this infection, stressing that all drugs have side effects Therefore, it is advisable to use them cautiously. For pregnant women, consult your pharmacist or doctor about the safety of your medication to relieve symptoms of colds.
Home remedies
The patient can treat colds through home remedies, including taking plenty of rest, drinking lots of fluids, and people with throat pain can gargle with salty water.
Pharmacological treatments
When older children and adults get colds, common over-the-counter medicines such as throat sprays, Throat Lozenges and cough medicines can be used to relieve symptoms. It can also be used to reduce the duration of colds or prevent infection. For nasal congestion, pseudoephedrine can be used. Antihistamines can be used to relieve nasal symptoms. Saline Nasal Sprays) For the same purpose, to reduce temperature, relieve body aches, headaches and sore throat, the patient may use acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Treatment of children and infants
As for treatment of infants and young children, the treatment for colds in this age group is supportive treatment, and it is important to take a comfortable rest, and to encourage them to take fluids to prevent the occurrence of drought, in addition to the use of nasal drops, suction and mucus Of the nose to clean the nasal passages in infants, and this age group can also be given the drug acetaminophen and ibuprofen to reduce heat and relieve pain, noting that this age group dose appropriate to age and weight, should not be given aspirin children (English: aspirin) Because it may cause a rare syndrome called Reye’s syndrome. It is also not recommended to give anti-cough medicines to children younger than four years because of side effects that can result from these drugs, which can threaten The life of the child.
Alternative treatments
There are some alternative medicines used to treat or prevent colds such as vitamin C, zinc, Echinacea, and other herbal remedies; however, some studies have shown mixed results for the effectiveness of these treatments; Consult your doctor for available treatment options.
Methods of transmission of colds
Catarrh spreads through direct contact with the patient’s discharge from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after sneezing or coughing the patient. Often, the transmission of the virus from one person to another when the patient touches his nose and touches someone or something else, Colds on objects, such as pens, books, telephones, computer keyboards, and coffee mugs for several hours, thus infecting them.
Symptoms of colds
Symptoms of colds usually occur within one to three days of exposure to the flu, and symptoms and signs may vary from person to person and may include:
- Gonorrhea or nasal obstruction.
- Sore throat.
- Cough.
- Nasal congestion.
- Slight pain in the body.
- Light headache.
- Sneezing.
- A slight rise in body temperature.
- Feeling of malaise.
- Nasal secretions can become yellow or green in color, and this is not an indicator of bacterial infection.
The pathological signs that should be reviewed by the doctor when observed in the case of an adult patient are as follows:
- The body temperature rises more than 38.5 degrees Celsius.
- Shortness of breath.
- Wheezing.
- Severe sore throat.
- Headaches.
- Sinus pain.
For children in general, it is common for a child to have a cold and do not require a doctor to ask for medical care. However, when you notice the following signs, you should see your doctor:
- The body temperature of the newborn baby rises to 12 weeks for more than 38 degrees Celsius.
- Continuous high temperature, or high body temperature of the child at any age for more than two consecutive days.
- Symptoms that get worse or fail to improve.
- Severe symptoms, such as headache or cough.
- Sizzling.
- Ear pain.
- Unusual drowsiness.
- Anorexia.
Complications of colds
Complications that can result from colds include:
- Osteoarthritis occurs when the virus or bacteria enter the vacuum behind the eardrum, and symptoms and signs of disease that appear on the patient with otitis media: ear pain, and in certain cases the discharge of green or yellow discharge from the nose or high temperature Again after a cold.
- Asthma, where cold can trigger an asthma attack.
- Severe sinus infection. When children or adults become infected with a cold that can not be cured quickly, this can lead to sinus infection.
- Infection with other minor types of infection, including: bacterial throat infection, Pneumonia, and bronchiolitis in children. These infections need to be reviewed by the doctor and treated.
Prevention of colds
There is no vaccine against viruses that cause colds, but there are some precautions that can be taken to reduce the spread of these viruses, such as:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water, and teach children the importance of washing hands. If soap and water are not available, it is recommended to use an alcohol hand sanitizer.
- Cleanse and clean the kitchen and bathroom surfaces using disinfectant, especially when someone in the family has a cold, and it is recommended to wash children’s toys periodically.
- Use incest when sneezing, coughing, then throw it and then wash your hands immediately.
- Teach children to sneeze or cough in the elbow curve when they do not have incest, in this way their mouths are covered without using their hands.
- Do not share personal utensils as drinking utensils with other family members, especially with people with colds.
- Avoid close contact with anyone with a cold.