The common cold

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The common cold

• Yelena Qatmosh Tasneem Hattem

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The common cold is the most common illness in
humans .
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What causes the common cold?

• The common cold is a viral infection of the upper
• respiratory tract .
• Usually last approximately 7 days .
• Associated with a number of viruses
• Ex. Rhinoviruses, parainfluenza viruses
• Season of the year, age, and prior exposure
• are important factors in the type of virus
  causing
• the infection and the type of symptoms that may
• occur .

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Common Cold Statistics

• Adults have 2-4 colds per year
• Children may have up to 10 colds per year

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How does it spread?

• Very contagious
• Spread from person to person
• Usually from nasal secretions and from fingers of
  the affected person
• Most contagious in the first 3 days after
  symptoms begin
• Viruses can last up to 5 hours on the skin and
  hard surfaces

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• While it is impossible to completely prevent the
• spread of colds, there are steps you can take to
• reduce your and your family's chances of
• becoming infected with a virus that causes
• Colds

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1. Wash your hands often.
Frequent hand washing can destroy viruses that
you have acquired from touching surfaces used by
other people.
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2. Avoid touching your face.
Most importantly, avoid touching the nose, mouth,
and eye areas if you are around someone with a
cold or have been touching surfaces in a public
area.
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3. Don't smoke !!
Cigarette smoke can irritate the airways and
increase susceptibility to colds and other
infections. Even exposure to passive smoke can
make you (or your children) more vulnerable to
colds.
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4. Use disposable items if a family member is
infected.

• Disposable cups can be thrown away after
  each use and prevent accidental spread of the
  virus from sharing of cups or glasses. 

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5. Keep household surfaces clean.

• Door knobs, drawer pulls, keyboards, light
  switches, telephones, remote controls,
  countertops, and sinks can all harbor viruses for
  hours after their use by an infected person. Wipe
  these surfaces frequently with soap and water or
  a disinfectant solution.

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6. Wash toys

• If your child has a cold, wash his or her
  toys as well when you are cleaning household
  surfaces and commonly-used items.

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7. Use paper towels

• Use paper towels in the kitchen and
  bathroom for hand washing. Germs can live for
  several hours on cloth towels. Alternatively,
  have separate towels for each family member and
  provide a clean one for guests.

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8. Throw tissues away after use

• Used tissues are sources of virus that can
  contaminate any surface where they are left.

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9. Control stress

• Studies have shown that people experiencing
  emotional stress have weakened immune systems and
  are more likely to catch a cold than their calmer
  counterparts.

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10. Maintain a healthy lifestyle

• While there isn't direct evidence to show
  that eating well or exercising can prevent colds,
  maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, with adequate
  sleep, good nutrition, and physical exercise can
  help ensure that your immune system is in good
  condition and ready to fight infection if it
  occurs.

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Symptoms

• Begins with a feeling of dryness and stuffiness
  in the nasopharynx (nose)
• Nasal secretions (usually clear and watery)
• Watery eyes
• Red and swollen nasal mucous membranes
• Headache
• Generalized tiredness
• Chills (in severe cases)

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• Fever (in severe cases)
• Exhaustion (in severe cases)
• If the pharynx and larynx (throat) becomes
  involved
• Sore throat
• Hoarseness

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Natural Cold Flu Remedies

• It's no wonder natural cold and flu
  remedies are popular -- modern medicine has yet
  to offer a cure for these age-old ailments. While
  some antiviral drugs can prevent and shorten the
  flu's duration, most medications only offer
  temporary relief of symptoms. Many natural
  remedies provide temporary relief as well, and a
  few may actually help you get better. See which
  cold and flu remedies show the most promise.

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1. Zinc
Some studies show that Zinc appears to have
antiviral properties. There is some evidence the
mineral may prevent the formation of certain
proteins that cold viruses use to reproduce
themselves. While zinc does not appear to help
prevent colds, some research suggests it may help
shorten cold symptom duration and reduce the
severity of the common cold when taken within 24
hours of the first symptoms. The FDA recommends
against using zinc nasal products for colds
because of reports of permanent loss of smell.
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2. Vitamin C

• Some studies suggest it can help reduce the
  duration and severity of cold symptoms. In one
  study, participants who were exposed to extreme
  physical stress and cold weather -- and who took
  vitamin C -- were 50 less likely to get a cold.
  To prevent side effects, such as diarrhea and
  stomach upset, the maximum daily intake of
  vitamin C for adults is 2,000 milligrams.

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3. Chicken Soup
Chicken soup may help cold symptoms in more than
one way. Inhaling the steam can ease nasal
congestion. Sipping spoonfuls of fluid can help
avoid dehydration. And some advocates say the
soup may soothe inflammation. Researchers have
found chicken soup has anti-inflammatory
properties in the lab, though it's unclear
whether this effect translates to real-world
colds.
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4. Hot Tea
Drinking hot tea offers some of the same benefits
as chicken soup. Inhaling the steam relieves
congestion, while swallowing the fluid soothes
the throat and keeps you hydrated. Black and
green teas have the added bonus of being loaded
with disease-fighting antioxidants, which may
fight colds.
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5. Steam/Humidifier
Breathing in steam can break up congestion in the
nasal passages, offering relief from a stuffy or
runny nose.
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6. Saline Drops
Dripping saltwater into the nose can thin out
nasal secretions and help remove excess mucus,
while reducing congestion . Try over-the-counter
saline drops, or make your own by mixing 8 ounces
of warm water ( 250 ml ) with 1/4 teaspoon salt
and 1/4 teaspoon baking soda. Use a bulb syringe
to squirt the mixture into one nostril while
holding the other one closed. Repeat 2-3 times
and then do the other side.
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8. Neti Pot
This small ceramic pot is used to flush out the
nasal passages with a saltwater solution -- a
process known as nasal irrigation. The result is
thinner mucus that drains more easily. Research
suggests neti pots are useful in relieving sinus
symptoms, such as congestion, pressure, and
facial pain, particularly in patients with
chronic sinus troubles.
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9. Menthol Ointment
Menthol has mild numbing agents that can relieve
the pain of raw skin. As an added benefit,
breathing in the medicated vapors that contain
menthol or camphor may help open clogged passages
and relieve symptoms of congestion. Use only in
children over 2 years of age.
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10. Saltwater Gargle
For a sore throat, the traditional saltwater
gargle may have some merit. Gargling warm water
with a teaspoon of salt four times daily may help
keep a scratchy throat moist.
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11. Nasal Strips
Another strategy for relieving nighttime
congestion is to try over-the-counter nasal
strips. These are strips of tape worn on the
bridge of the nose to open the nasal passages.
While they can't unclog the nose, they do create
more space for airflow.
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12. Let Your Fever Work
The rise in temperature actively fights colds and
flu by making your body inhospitable for germs.
Endure a moderate fever for a couple of days to
get better faster. Just be sure to stay well
hydrated. Call your doctor right away if the
fever is over 104 ( 40 C ), unless it comes down
quickly with treatment. In infants 3 months or
younger call your doctor for any fever greater
than 100.4 ( 38 C ) . Children with a fever of
less than 102 ( 38.9 C ) usually don't require
treatment unless they're uncomfortable.
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13. Bed Rest
getting plenty of rest lets your body direct
more energy to fighting off germs.
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Treatment of common cold

• Antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Pain Relievers Antipyretics
• Cough suppressants Expectorants
• Nasal Strips
• Antibiotics are ineffective !!!

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1. Antihistamines

• Chlorpheniramine
• Diphenhydramine
• 2. Decongestants
• Phenylephrine
• Pseudoephedrine

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3. Pain Relievers antipyretic

• Paracetamol
• Ibuprofen
• 4. Cough suppressants
• dextromethorphan

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When do I see the doctor?

• See your doctor if you have
• Temperature over 101 degrees ( 38.3 C ) for more
  than 48 hours
• A cough with pain in the chest
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent sore throat, without a runny or stuffy
  nose

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• Your throat is very red and it hurts to swallow
• No improvement within 7 days
• Severe headache with a fever
• Worsening pain in one or both ears
• Any chronic medical condition
• Ex. Asthma or diabetes

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What To do about colds and flu during pregnancy

• If you are pregnant and do get a cold, do not
  take any over-the-counter cold or cough
  medications without checking with your
  practitioner. 
• you should turn to more natural ways of relieving
  symptoms .
• Most antihistamines, decongestants and Cough
  medications should not be taken during pregnancy
  unless instructed to do so by the practitioner,
  They are usually not tested in pregnant women and
  may have dangerous side effects for the baby.
• In most cases, it is fine to take acetaminophen
  for minor aches and pains. Women should avoid
  ibuprofen, naproxen they can interfere with
  baby's development in the early months and create
  problems during labor later on. 

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Treating Child's Cold or Fever

• Pediatricians say a fever is significant
  when it's ( 38 C ) or more. If your child has a
  fever, call the doctor if she's younger than 6
  months has other symptoms has had a fever for
  more than two days or has not been vaccinated.
  In other cases, it's usually safe to use
  children's ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

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How old does my child need to be to take cough or
cold medicine?
Don't give over-the-counter cold medicine or
cough medicine to children younger than 4, they
may cause serious and potentially
life-threatening side effects. To ease cold
symptoms, give extra fluids, use a nasal
aspirator, and use a humidifier.
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If you give two medicines, don't double up on a
drug.
Be sure you don't give your child two
over-the-counter medicines with the same active
ingredients. In the same way, a cough medication
may also contain other ingredients to treat
congestion. So it's easy to unintentionally
double a child's dose if you don't read
carefully. Compare ingredients in the 'Drug
Facts' box so you don't risk giving your child an
overdose.
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If don't have any children's medicine. Can I give
half an adult dose?
Never give your child OTC medicines that are
meant for adults. You'll just be guessing at the
right dose, and some medicines are formulated
differently for children. Use only products that
are labeled for use in babies, infants, or
children ("for pediatric use") .
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• Thank You ?