Common Cold Diagnosis

The common cold is a viral infection that attacks the upper respiratory system, which includes the nose, sinuses, throat, inner ear, larynx and trachea. There exist more than 200 different viruses that can cause a cold. The most commonly responsible group of viruses is the rhinoviruses. These cause between 30 and 50 percent of all colds.

Rhinovirus Symptoms

• A rhinovirus infection is the most common cold infection humans can contract. Rhinovirus infects the upper respiratory tract. Colds may also be caused by a coronavirus, which can infect both the upper respiratory tract and also the gastrointestinal tract. Coronaviruses that cause colds have been more difficult to understand than rhinoviruses because human coronaviruses are difficult to grow in a laboratory environment. Other causes of the common cold include respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza. These produce mild infections but can develop into severe lower respiratory tract infections in children.

  Cold symptoms usually begin within two to three days of exposure and last up to 10 days. Within a few hours, people experience nasal irritation and sometimes a sore throat, followed by sneezing and a runny nose. By the second day, nasal secretions usually become thicker and yellow or green in color. This is normal. A person will be most contagious during the first two to three days, and by day seven the risk of contagion disappears. Symptoms clear up completely within seven to 10 days.

  Medical experts agree that each person has about 50 colds in a lifetime. Just about anyone can catch a cold, although children are more commonly affected.

How Colds Are Spread

• Rhinovirus multiplies in the nasal cells, which is why it is present in nasal fluid in large quantities and may be spread through the droplets of fluid expelled during coughing and sneezing. The highest concentration of the virus is present in nasal fluid during the first three days of infection, so this is the time when a person is most contagious. During this phase, hands may quickly become contaminated through blowing the nose and covering the mouth. This can lead to the virus being passed on to objects or other people the cold sufferer comes into even brief contact with.

  Avoid contamination by regularly washing your hands with warm soap and water or using a hand sanitizer; maintaining a healthy diet; getting regular exercise and sufficient sleep; and avoiding smoking, sharing drinking utensils and coming into contact with people who are sneezing.

Cold Susceptibility

• In North America, the cold season arrives during the early fall and continues through until the early spring. A commonly held myth is that exposure to cold weather or wet conditions can cause a cold. Although such exposure cannot directly cause a cold, it can lower your resistance. The only way to truly catch a cold is by exposure to a cold virus. Other factors that lower a person's resistance include smoking, poor diet, stress, fatigue and a compromised immune system.

Cold Treatment

• There is no cure for the common cold, and most people readily recover without the need for special treatment. Colds are, however, the number one cause of visits to the doctor’s office and sick days. In the United States alone, millions of dollars are spent on over-the-counter cold medications. Usually, most colds will clear up within two weeks without causing any further complications. Common treatments include:

  Pain Relievers (Analgesics)
  Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will help with sore throat, fever, headache and minor joint aches.

  Nasal Sprays
  Decongestant nasal sprays or drops should not be used for more than two to three days as they can cause severe inflammation of the mucus membranes.

  Cough Syrups
  Though the ingredients in cough medications alleviate the symptoms that arise with a cough caused by colds, they do not treat the underlying cause of the cough. Too much, especially for children, may be harmful.

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Complications Arising from the Common Cold

• Normal cold symptoms, such as sore throat, cough, runny nose and aching head, are irritating enough, but sometimes common cold symptoms can be more serious. Complications can include sinus infection, bronchitis, ear infections, nausea and asthma attacks. You should contact a doctor if you suffer from breathing problems or if symptoms do not improve or worsen after seven to 10 days.