February 23, 1999

Consider the Common Cold

The flu may be getting a lot of media attention right now, but the biggest reason people miss school or work is the common cold. Unlike influenza, which is seasonal, a cold may occur any time of the year.

For most people, a bout with a cold is not uncommon, however, the term "common cold" is a misnomer. Many different viruses can cause a cold--so far, over 200 cold viruses (called rhinoviruses) have been identified. So a cold is really the manifestation of any one of hundreds of short-lived infections of the nose and throat. But all are contagious, and most have similar symptoms.

While myths about how a cold is caught are plentiful, (such as going out in the rain or cold without proper clothing), colds are only caused by a virus. But it is true that certain conditions can heighten a person's susceptibility to catching a cold, such as fatigue, poor ventilation, exposure to some air pollutants, and possibly being chilled. (So you should still dress appropriately for the weather.)

When someone has a cold, the virus is spread through droplets expelled by talking, sneezing, or coughing. Some are spread through physical contact. In order to minimize the likelihood of developing a cold, keep your distance from people who have colds, and stay away from crowded places (such as movie theaters) where there are a lot of colds around. Washing hands often, getting plenty of rest, and eating well-balanced meals can help reduce the risk of catching a cold.

If you are one of the unfortunate ones incubating a cold, you can expect to feel less than perfect for at least 7 to 10 days. Most people experience cold symptoms from 1 to 3 days after exposure to the virus; that is why colds are so hard to prevent--they can be spread before the first symptom appears. A scratchy or sore throat is usually the first symptom, followed by nasal congestion, sneezing, and vague feelings of being unwell within hours. After 48 hours, most colds have fully blossomed: watery eyes, runny nose, hoarse voice, congestion, and diminished senses of taste and smell. Sometimes headaches and body aches occur, and coughing and a slight fever are not uncommon. Once the cold has developed fully, the symptoms usually continue at their peak for several days before they begin to diminish gradually.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the common cold. Because there are so many cold viruses, it is difficult to develop a vaccine that can provide protection from them all. After having a cold, a person develops an immunity to that particular strain of virus, but the immunity may only last about a month, and afford no protection against other strains of rhinoviruses. And because a cold is caused by a virus, not a bacteria, antibiotics do not help a cold. (They can be useful treating secondary bacterial infections, such as an ear infection or strep throat, but are ineffective for the cold itself.)

The only thing to do for a cold is to treat the symptoms in order to be more comfortable while the cold runs its course. Antihistamines, decongestants, cough syrup or drops, a vaporizer, drinking lots of clear fluids, (fruit juice and water), and getting plenty of rest can be used to provide some relief. But always read the label on over-the-counter remedies; the drugs they contain may have side effects or may be dangerous when they interact with drugs you may be taking for other conditions.

If you have a question about possible drug interactions, or if a fever, sore throat, or headache persists for more than 2 or 3 days, call your doctor. A physician should also be contacted if the headache is severe, if chest pain is experienced, or if hard coughing spells, earache, or rusty-colored sputum occurs. Anyone with a chronic lung disease, such as asthma, emphysema, or chronic bronchitis is also advised to contact their doctor at the beginning stages of a cold.

To obtain a brochure about the common cold, call the Central Connecticut Health District at 721 2822.