It is the season! Isn’t it? Too many people missing work and school this time of the year.
“Yes Doc., I have been sneezing, have a runny nose for few days and now the sore throat and body aches too!”
Another room – another patient who clearly looks unwell “Doc., It all started with sore throat, body aches, headaches and fever. I feel fatigued and lethargic, have no appetite, couldn’t make it to work either”.
In the U.S., most common colds occur from early September until March or April. According to the Center for Disease Control, 22 million school days are lost every year because of common cold. Adults have 2-3 episodes and children have about 6-10 per year. But are the two patients having the same problem – common cold?
Common Cold – Symptoms
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Coughing
- Body aches
- Headaches
What to do if you have Common Cold
Common cold is a viral illness and usually it takes its own course and body fights it off. During the illness, you should:
- Drink plenty of water
- Rest
- Use humidifier/cool mist vaporizer in your room
- Do steam inhalations
- Use saline nasal spray or saline drops
- Use cough drops and warm water gargles for sore throat
- Take Tylenol for fever
- Vitamin C intake (no more than 3g/day) can speed up recovery time
What not to do
Avoid antibiotics – viruses don’t respond to them plus you can promote future resistant bacterial infections. Decongestants (Like Sudafed) reduces blood flow to the local blood vessels and stop the runny nose, but the rebound blood flow when the effect of these medications wears off, can make runny nose and sneezing even worse.
If the illness persists for more than a week, if you are immunosuppressed, elderly or you have an infant with these symptoms – consult a doctor.
How to prevent Common Cold
Viruses responsible for common cold get transmitted from person to person through air and close personal contact. Airplanes, elevator buttons, printer, copiers are all places people leave traces of infection.
- Avoid people who are sick with common cold
- Wash your hands often with soap and water
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- If you are sick, protect your family by having them do the above.
- Teach your children about clean coughing/sneezing practices (in a tissue or your upper shirt sleeve)
- A small daily dose of Vitamin C can boost immunity (No more than 1gm/day)
Is it flu?
Flu is different from common cold in terms of the virus (Influenza virus) causing it. Not only the two illnesses happen to be prevalent the same time of the year, they also present quite similarly. Sometimes it is impossible to differentiate them just by history and physical exam. However, flu tends to present with worse symptoms and feeling of unwell compared to common cold. Antiviral medications when given early on at onset and flu vaccination are good ways of treating and preventing flu, respectively.
What do you think the two patients have?
Share your thoughts with me! Would also love to hear about any natural remedies you may have used that have worked for you!
