Common cold
Common viral infection of the upper respiratory tract / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The common cold or the cold is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx.[6][8] Signs and symptoms may appear fewer than two days after exposure to the virus.[6] These may include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever.[3][4] People usually recover in seven to ten days,[3] but some symptoms may last up to three weeks.[7] Occasionally, those with other health problems may develop pneumonia.[3]
| Common cold | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Cold, acute viral nasopharyngitis, nasopharyngitis, viral rhinitis, rhinopharyngitis, acute coryza, head cold,[1] upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)[2] |
| |
| A representation of the molecular surface of one variant of human rhinovirus | |
| Specialty | Infectious disease |
| Symptoms | Cough, sore throat, runny nose, fever[3][4] |
| Complications | Usually none, but occasionally otitis media, sinusitis, pneumonia and sepsis can occur[5] |
| Usual onset | ~2 days from exposure[6] |
| Duration | 1–3 weeks[3][7] |
| Causes | Viral (usually rhinovirus)[8] |
| Diagnostic method | Based on symptoms |
| Differential diagnosis | Allergic rhinitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis,[9] pertussis, sinusitis[5] |
| Prevention | Hand washing, cough etiquette, social distancing, vitamin C[3][10] |
| Treatment | Symptomatic therapy,[3] zinc[11] |
| Medication | NSAIDs[12] |
| Frequency | 2–3 per year (adults) 6–8 per year (children)[13] |
Well over 200 virus strains are implicated in causing the common cold, with rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses being the most common.[14] They spread through the air during close contact with infected people or indirectly through contact with objects in the environment, followed by transfer to the mouth or nose.[3] Risk factors include going to child care facilities, not sleeping well, and psychological stress.[6] The symptoms are mostly due to the body's immune response to the infection rather than to tissue destruction by the viruses themselves.[15] The symptoms of influenza are similar to those of a cold, although usually more severe and less likely to include a runny nose.[6][16]
There is no vaccine for the common cold.[3] The primary methods of prevention are hand washing; not touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands; and staying away from sick people.[3] Some evidence supports the use of face masks.[10] There is also no cure, but the symptoms can be treated.[3] Zinc may reduce the duration and severity of symptoms if started shortly after the onset of symptoms.[11] Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may help with pain.[12] Antibiotics, however, should not be used, as all colds are caused by viruses,[17] and there is no good evidence that cough medicines are effective.[6][18]
The common cold is the most frequent infectious disease in humans.[19] Under normal circumstances, the average adult gets two to three colds a year, while the average child may get six to eight.[8][13] Infections occur more commonly during the winter.[3] These infections have existed throughout human history.[20]