The common cold is a contagious viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. There are over 200 viruses that can cause a cold and generally this involves a runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing and lots of misery.
You may also have a sore throat, cough, headache, or other symptoms.
Children get the most colds - six or eight in a year. By contrast, adults average two to four colds in a year, with a greater frequency in the parents of children.
The high rate in children is blamed on their lack of built-up resistance to infection and the close contacts with other kids in schools and day care. Women have closer contact with children and may also explain why women suffer more colds than in men.
Adults over 60 usually suffer less than one cold a year, probably because they have built up a natural immunity.
For children with asthma, colds are the most common trigger of asthma symptoms.
How do you know whether you have a cold or the flu?
Flu is like the cold in many ways - most basically, they're both involve respiratory infections caused by viruses.
At worst, a cold can occasionally lead to secondary bacterial infections of the middle ear or sinuses, which can be treated with antibiotics. But the flu, if misdiagnosed, can lead to more serious problems and potentially life-threatening flu complications like pneumonia.
The Symptoms
A stuffy nose, sore throat, and sneezing are usually signs of a cold.
Tiredness, fever, headache, and major aches and pains probably mean you have the flu.
Coughing can be a sign of either a cold or the flu. But a bad cough, with these symptoms, usually indicates that you have the flu.
Typically, colds begin slowly, two to three days after infection with the virus. The first symptoms are usually a scratchy, sore throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose. The temperature is usually normal or only slightly elevated. A mild cough can develop several days later.
Symptoms tend to be worse in infants and young children, who sometimes run temperatures of up to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius). Cold symptoms will usually last from two days to a week.
Signs of the flu include sudden onset with a headache, dry cough, and chills. The symptoms quickly become more severe than those of a cold. The flu sufferer often experiences a 'knocked-off-your-feet' feeling, with muscle aches in the back and legs. Fever of up to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius) is common. The fever typically begins to subside on the second or third day, and then respiratory symptoms like nasal congestion and sore throat appear.
Fatigue and weakness may continue for days or even weeks.
Influenza rarely causes stomach upset. What we call 'stomach flu' (with symptoms like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting) is usually gastroenteritis.
Cold and flu-like symptoms can sometimes mimic more serious illnesses like strep throat, measles, and chickenpox. Allergies, too, can resemble colds with their runny noses, sneezing, and general miserable feeling.
Know When to Call Your Doctor
With the typical symptoms, it's not necessary to contact your physician immediately. But you should call your doctor in these situations:
- Your symptoms get worse.
- Your symptoms last a long time.
- After feeling a little better, you develop signs of a more serious problem. Some of these signs are a sick-to-your-stomach feeling, vomiting, high fever, shaking chills, chest pain, or coughing with thick, yellow-green mucus.
Cold Remedies
Over the counter cough-cold products can make you more comfortable while you suffer. They are intended to treat the symptoms but not the underlying illness.
Don't take antibiotics to treat your flu or cold. Antibiotics do not kill viruses, and they should only be used for bacterial complications such as sinus, ear or chest infections which have appeared after the cold or flu. Overuse of antibiotics has become a very serious problem, which has led to bacteria becoming resistant to them resulting in antibiotics becoming less effective.
| If You Want to Do This: |
Choose Medicine With This: |
| Unclog a stuffy nose |
Nasal decongestant |
| Quiet a cough |
Cough suppressant |
| Loosen mucus so you can cough it up |
Expectorant |
| Stop runny nose and sneezing |
Antihistamine |
| Ease fever, headaches, minor aches and pains |
Pain Reliever (Analgesic) |
Do not give aspirin or other "salicylates" to children or teenagers with symptoms of a cold or flu. If you aren't sure whether a product has salicylates, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Young people can get sick or die from a rare condition called Reye syndrome if they take these medicines while they have these symptoms.
Warning: Always use medicines as directed on the label.
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