Written By: Abier Hamami. RPH. CPHQ.

What is a Common Cold?

Common cold is an illness caused by a viral infection located in the nose. Colds also involve the sinuses, ears, and bronchial tubes.

What is the difference between Common Cold and Flu?

Flu and common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, flu is worse than common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Common cold is usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

What causes Common Cold?

More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Some, such as the rhinoviruses, (from the Greek rhin, meaning "nose") cause an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds, but seldom produce serious illnesses. Others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, produce mild infections in adults but can precipitate severe lower respiratory infections in young children.

What are the symptoms of Common Cold?

The symptoms of a common cold include sneezing, runny nose, nasal obstruction, sore or scratchy throat, cough, hoarseness, and mild general symptoms like headache, feverishness, chilliness, and not feeling well in general.

How frequent does it occur, and how long it lasts?

Common colds occur in adults on average 2 to 3 time per year, and in children 6 to 10, times depending on their age and exposure.

Common colds last on average for one week. Mild colds may last only 2 or 3 days while severe colds may last for up to 2 weeks. It is considered most contagious in the first 3 days of having symptoms.

What are the complications of common cold?

Acute Bacterial Middle Ear InfectionAcute Bacterial SinusitisAsthma AttacksWorsening of Chronic Bronchitis

What can you do to prevent common cold?

Wash your hands thoroughly and frequently with warm, soapy water.Sneeze into a tissue, rather than into your hands then discard the tissue.Don’t touch your face—your hands may have come in contact with the cold virus!Keep away from people who have colds.

What should you know about common cold treatments?

Available treatments do not treat the viral infection that causes common cold, but focus on relieving the symptoms only. Most of these treatments are available over the counter. Some of these products contain multiple active ingredients, and others contain only 1 active ingredient. Although combination products may be more convenient, but you can easily overmedicate yourself.
Common cold treatments should be used only as recommended, and in caution to avoid their side effects, or conflict with other drugs or diseases. Among the common treatments used are:

Analgesics and antipyretic such as Paracetamol( which is also known as Acetaminophen) is used for the relief of fever, headaches, and other minor aches and pains. It is remarkably safe in standard doses, but, because of its wide availability in different cold preparations, and under different trade names accidental overdoses are fairly common.Nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac are effective in treating inflammation, pain, and fever. The major side effect of NSAIDs is irritation of the gastrointestinal tract, and may also prolong bleeding and reduce kidney function. You should consult your pharmacist or physician before using NSAIDs if you have heart disease, including hypertension, or if you have a history of ulcers or stomach/intestinal bleeding.Nasal decongestants such as Pseudoephedrine reduce the inflammation, and congestion in the nasal passages by constricting local blood vessels. Decongestants may be taken by mouth or applied directly on the nasal mucus membrane in the form of nose drops and sprays. Side effects include rapid heart rate, blood pressure elevation, and nervous stimulation. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, an enlarged prostate, glaucoma, diabetes, or an overactive thyroid before taking these drugs.

Antihistamines ("first generation", "sedating") such as Triprolidine, or Diphenhydramine block the release of histamine which causes dilatation and leakage of blood vessels, and is also a powerful stimulant of the sneeze reflex. their major side effect is drowsiness, which may be severe in some people. Therefore alcohol, sedatives, and tranquilizers must not be taken concurrently. Also antihistamines may cause difficulty in urination in men who have enlargement of the prostate gland and worsen the eye problem of glaucoma

Cough suppressants such as Codeine and Dextromethorphan work to suppress the cough reflex of the brain. They should not be used in patients with lung diseases where cough may be ineffective and secretions retained in the lung.

Anticholinergics such as Ipratropium block the action of the parasympathetic nervous system on mucus gland secretion, thereby reducing nasal discharge. Anticholinergics may cause difficulty in urination in men with prostate disease and worsen the eye problem of glaucoma.

Other non-medication treatments could include drinking lots of fluids, especially hot liquids (which probably work by soothing the irritated respiratory passages with their steam). Also drinking chamomile, lemon or ginger could relief common cold symptoms.

References:

http://www.pharmacytimes.com/article.cfm?ID=743 Accessed Feb 2006http://www.commoncold.org/trtmnt.htm Accessed Feb 2006National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm Accessed Feb 2006Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_cold Accessed Feb 2006Center for Disease Control. http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/coldflu.htm Accessed Feb2006