Most adults suffer from common infections like cold at least two to three times a year. This is more frequent for children who have as many as six to eight colds a year, since their immunity systems remains weak at an early age. Benjamin Franklin tried to define common cold in one of his research papers.

Because of the similarity of the symptoms of this disease to those occurring due to exposure to cold weather, this has come to be known as common cold. According to Franklin , common cold passes on from one person to another through touch and it travels through the air. The virus causing these diseases has still not been discovered totally.

Common Cold Causes

Though exposure to cold weather has not been proved as the actual cause of catching common cold, no matter what the name suggests, still common colds are seasonal, especially occurring during the winter months. It is still under debate as to whether short-term exposure to cold weather causes common cold more or the direct chilling. In accordance with the symptoms, the Common Cold Centre at the Cardiff University has researched and come to certain conclusions about the circumstances in which one might catch common cold. The most significant cause among them is acute cooling of the feet.

Though the entire virus’s causing common cold has not yet been diagnosed, Rhinoviruses are the cause for most common colds. Common cold or acute viral nasopharyngitis, or acute coryza is an extremely contagious disease. This is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory system, the primary cause of which is rhinovirus, picornaviruses or corona viruses.

Among the adults, upper respiratory tract infections are the most common. Children are more prone to infections of common cold.

Common Cold Symptoms

The common symptoms of common cold are as follows:

Sore throat

Running nose

Congestion in the nasal passage

Cough

Sneezing

Sometimes reddening of the eye

Muscle pains

Fatigue

Weakness

Loss of appetite

Headache

Fever

Common Cold Is Transmitted

This virus spreads through air, specially when an affected person coughs or sneezes. This can also spread through the contact of saliva, either through kissing, or by sharing of food. This can also spread through the nasal secretion of the patient or contaminated materials.

The virus rapidly multiplies once it enters the cells of the lining of the nasopharynx. Though it generally enters through the nose, eyes can also be the passage sometimes. The viral replication cycle begins within 8 to 12 hours after the initial infection. Symptoms occur shortly after the infection, usually within 2 to 5 days, although it might be as early as 10 hours after infection.

Complications

Common cold, though generally not much harmful, can sometimes lead to ailments like bronchiolitis, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, croup, strep throat or otitis media. This might also lead to acute asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema.

Common Cold Treatment

Since not all the causing viruses have yet been identified, there is no particular medication that treats this common cold. The only possible methods adopted as treatment are giving maximum relief and comfort to the patients according to the symptoms, and prevention from further infection. A combination of fluid and plenty of rest helps the most.

Antibiotics do not have any effect on common cold viruses and there are no approved antiviral drugs. Some other methods used to give relief to the patients are

Nasal decongestants

Paracetamols

Cough syrups

Zinc preparations

Chicken soups

Steam inhalation

Prevention of Common Cold

Since there is no valid treatment from common cold, prevention is the best way. The preventive measures that can be adopted are:

Washing of hands to minimize contamination

Avoid close contact with the patient

Avoid touching the mouth and face

Alcohol-based hand gels

These are the only ways to avoid common cold, since successful immunization has not yet been possible.

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