What is a Cold? as opposed to the Flu

What is a Cold?

A common cold is actually a disease and a minor illness that results from infection by any one of almost 200 different viruses. Usually a common, or head cold is confined to the nose and throat, and sometimes the larynx and the lungs. These viral infections can also lead to more serious bacterial infections of the throat, lungs or ears.

Who catches a cold?

All of us catch colds. Most of us had our first cold during our first year of life. Children are extremely susceptible to nasal viral infection between the ages of 1 and 3. Then they gradually become immune to many common viruses. The frequency of colds increases again during early school years, because the school environment contains new types of viruses. Also, schoolchildren may be careless about covering their mouths when they sneeze. Most people acquire more immunity as they grow older and catch fewer and less severe colds. Young adults may have 2 or 3 colds per year; elderly adults may have only one or none. Ninety-five percent of people exposed to a cold virus become infected, although only 75% show symptoms.

Symptoms of a cold

Colds are generally associated with a runny nose or sniffling, sneezing, sore throat, coughing, headaches and tiredness. The runny nose, sneezing and coughing are all part of your bodies defense system to get rid of the virus. (Unfortunately these also are what spread the virus to the next person.) At first the nasal discharge is usually watery. Then it becomes thick and greenish-yellow. You nay also have a headache and slight fever.
Cold symptoms start 1 or 2 days after the infection. Colds typically last three to five days, with residual coughing lasting up to three weeks. But infections can spread through the respiratory tract causing secondary infections into your middle ear, sinuses, larynx, trachea or lungs. Your body’s immune system kills the virus and usually you will not be affected by that particular virus again. However, because of the large number of different cold viruses, you can be infected by another cold virus to start the process all over again.

What To Do – I have a Cold?

The common cold is caused by numerous viruses (mainly rhinoviruses, corona viruses, and also certain echoviruses, paramyxoviruses, and coxsackieviruses) infecting the upper respiratory system. There is no known cure for the cold. However, there are some helpful things you can do for yourself and everyone else.

• Stay at home (this is to stop the spread of your cold to others).
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Stay warm and increase the moisture in the air.
• If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth with a tissue.
• Do not shake hands with anyone and frequently wash your hands. When you sneeze or cough, the virus “cloud” can last for hours on our hand and even in the air.
• In general, stay clear of antibiotics – viruses do not respond to them anyway.
• Take vitamin C? While small doses of vitamin C are good for most people, it probably won’t hurt. However, there is no evidence that taking vitamin C actually helps when you have a cold. An aspirin can help relieve aches and pains and help you sleep.

“Feed a cold, starve a fever”? While most of the medical profession says that your eating habits can’t effect a viral infection, certain studies do seem to indicate that the old “wife’s tale” may not be so silly after all. So eat a few extra apples.

Related posts:

1. What is Influenza? – differences between colds and flu