Overview

The common cold is a viral infection of your nose and throat (upper respiratory tract). It's usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. Many types of viruses can cause a common cold.

Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, but healthy adults can also expect to have two or three colds annually.

Most people recover from a common cold in a week or 10 days. Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. If symptoms don't improve, see your doctor.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Symptoms

Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms, which can vary from person to person, might include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Sneezing
• Low-grade fever
• Generally feeling unwell (malaise)

The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. This isn't an indication of a bacterial infection.

When to see a doctor

For adults — seek medical attention if you have:

• Fever greater than 101.3 F (38.5 C)
• Fever lasting five days or more or returning after a fever-free period
• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Severe sore throat, headache or sinus pain

For children — in general, your child doesn't need to see the doctor for a common cold. But seek medical attention right away if your child has any of the following:

• Fever of 100.4 F (38 C) in newborns up to 12 weeks
• Rising fever or fever lasting more than two days in a child of any age
• Symptoms that worsen or fail to improve
• Severe symptoms, such as headache or cough
• Wheezing
• Ear pain
• Extreme fussiness
• Unusual drowsiness
• Lack of appetite

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Causes

Although many types of viruses can cause a common cold, rhinoviruses are the most common culprit.

A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks.

It also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, you're likely to catch a cold.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Diagnosis

Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their signs and symptoms. If your doctor suspects you have a bacterial infection or other condition, he or she may order a chest X-ray or other tests to exclude other causes of your symptoms.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Complications

• Acute ear infection (otitis media). This occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the space behind the eardrum. Typical signs and symptoms include earaches and, in some cases, a green or yellow discharge from the nose or the return of a fever following a common cold.
• Asthma. A cold can trigger an asthma attack.
• Acute sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that doesn't resolve can lead to inflammation and infection of the sinuses (sinusitis).
• Other secondary infections. These include strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis), pneumonia, and croup or bronchiolitis in children. These infections need to be treated by a doctor.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Prevention

There's no vaccine for the common cold, but you can take common-sense precautions to slow the spread of cold viruses:

• Wash your hands. Clean your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water, and teach your children the importance of hand-washing. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Disinfect your stuff. Clean kitchen and bathroom countertops with disinfectant, especially when someone in your family has a cold. Wash children's toys periodically.

• Use tissues. Sneeze and cough into tissues. Discard used tissues right away, then wash your hands carefully.

  Teach children to sneeze or cough into the bend of their elbow when they don't have a tissue. That way they cover their mouths without using their hands.

• Don't share. Don't share drinking glasses or utensils with other family members. Use your own glass or disposable cups when you or someone else is sick. Label the cup or glass with the name of the person with the cold.
• Steer clear of colds. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold.
• Choose your child care center wisely. Look for a child care setting with good hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick children at home.
• Take care of yourself. Eating well, getting exercise and enough sleep, and managing stress might help you keep colds at bay.

Alternative medicine

In spite of ongoing studies, the scientific jury is still out on common alternative cold remedies such as vitamin C and echinacea. Here's an update on some popular choices:

• Vitamin C. It appears that for the most part taking vitamin C won't help the average person prevent colds.
• Echinacea. Studies on the effectiveness of echinacea at preventing or shortening colds are mixed. However, if your immune system is healthy, you're not taking prescription medications and you're not allergic to echinacea, using echinacea supplements is unlikely to cause harm.

• Zinc. The cold-fighting reputation of zinc has had its ups and downs. That's because many zinc studies — both those that find the mineral beneficial and those that do not — are flawed. In studies with positive results, zinc seemed most effective taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.

  Zinc side effects include a bad taste and nausea. Talk to your doctor before taking a zinc supplement.

  Intranasal zinc might cause permanent damage to the sense of smell. In June 2009, the FDA issued a warning against using three zinc-containing nasal cold remedies because they had been associated with a long-lasting or permanent loss of smell (anosmia).

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Lifestyle and home remedies

To make yourself as comfortable as possible when you have a cold, try:

• Drinking plenty of fluids. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water are good choices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which can dehydrate you.
• Eating chicken soup. Chicken soup and other warm fluids can be soothing and can loosen congestion.
• Resting. If possible, stay home from work or school if you have a fever or a bad cough or are drowsy after taking medications. This will give you a chance to rest as well as reduce the chances that you'll infect others.
• Adjusting your room's temperature and humidity. Keep your room warm, but not overheated. If the air is dry, a cool-mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing. Keep the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.
• Soothing your throat. A saltwater gargle — 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in a 4-ounce to 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat.

• Using saline nasal drops. To help relieve nasal congestion, try saline nasal drops. You can buy these drops over-the-counter, and they can help relieve symptoms, even in children.

  In infants, gently suction the nostrils with a bulb syringe (insert the bulb syringe about 1/4 to 1/2 inch, or about 6 to 12 millimeters) after applying saline drops.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com

Risk factors

These factors can increase your chances of getting a cold:

• Age. Children younger than six are at greatest risk of colds, especially if they spend time in child-care settings.
• Weakened immune system. Having a chronic illness or otherwise weakened immune system increases your risk.
• Time of year. Both children and adults are more susceptible to colds in fall and winter, but you can get a cold any time.
• Smoking. You're more likely to catch a cold and to have more severe colds if you smoke.
• Exposure. If you're around many people, such as at school or on an airplane, you're likely to be exposed to viruses that cause colds.

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com