Common cold is caused by viruses like rhinovirus, corona virus. It can occur any time in a year. The viruses are seen as invisible droplets in the air we breathe or things we touch. It is most contagious during first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear and may be contagious up to 3 weeks. It spreads through person to person contact or by breathing in virus particles spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching the skin or another surface contaminated with the virus also spread a cold

 

Common cold is caused by viruses like rhinovirus, corona virus. It can occur any time in a year. The viruses are seen as invisible droplets in the air we breathe or things we touch.

Signs and symptoms of cold

• Cough: Either dry or productive cough.

• Runny nose.

• Itching of eyes.

• Watering of eyes.

• Throat irritation or pain.

• Fever.

• Congestion manifested as stuffy nose, runny nose of head heaviness, sneezing.

• Tiredness.

• Body pain.

Spread of cold

It is most contagious during first 2 to 4 days after symptoms appear and may be contagious up to 3 weeks. It spreads through person to person contact or by breathing in virus particles spread through the air by sneezing or coughing. Touching the mouth or nose after touching the skin or another surface contaminated with the virus also spread a cold.

Treatment: There is no cure for the common cold. Only the symptoms are treated with antipyretics, anti-histamines, pain killers, decongestants and cough preparations.

Antibiotics: They are not effective in treating cold but may be necessary if the cold is complicated with bacterial infection.

Prevention of common cold

• Child should be kept away from those who smoke or those who had cold.

• Wash the hands of a child thoroughly and frequently, especially after blowing the nose.

• Cover the noses and mouths while coughing, sneezing to prevent spread of germs.

• Avoid using the same towels or eating in utensils used by the person who had cold. Avoid drinking from the same glass.

• Avoid picking the other people’s used tissues of kerchiefs.

Tips to ease symptoms of cold

• Salt water drops in the nostril to relieve nasal congestion.

• Apply cool-mist humidifier to increase air moisture.

• A Warm bath or heating pad to soothe aches and pains.

• Steam from a hot shower to help your child breathe more easily.

When to worry

• Coughing up a lot of mucus.

• Shortness of breath.

• Unusual lethargy/tiredness.

• Inability to keep food or liquids down or poor fluid intake.

• Increasing headache or facial or throat pain.

• Severely painful sore throat that interferes with swallowing.

• Fever of 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.

• Chest or stomach pain.

• Swollen glands in neck.

• Earache.

Complications

• Sinusitis.

• Pneumonia.

• Bronchitis.

• Ear infection.

• Asthma.