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It’s Cold Season: Are you ready?
This time of year many people are coming into their pharmacies, searching for treatment of the common cold. With many products available it can be overwhelming when deciding which may be best for you. Through my next two articles I hope to shed some light on the cause, symptoms, and treatment of the common cold.
The common cold is an infection of our upper respiratory tracts (nose and throat) caused by a virus. This virus is often spread by droplets in the air when someone that is sick coughs, sneezes, or talks. But it may also be spread by direct contact with someone who has a cold, or by using shared objects (towels, telephones, etc.)
There are more than 100 viruses that can cause the common cold, because of this the usual symptoms can vary between individuals. Symptoms will often develop three days after being exposed to the virus and may include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, mild fever, fatigue, headache, and body aches. Early on the common cold may seem like the flu, but the difference is that colds tends to develop quite slowly and be more of a nuisance, compared to the flu that comes on suddenly and makes you feel much worse. It is important to know that if your symptoms last longer than 10 days you should see your physician. You should also see your physician if you have a fever of 103 F (39.4 C) or higher, a fever with sweating, chills, and a cough with colored phlegm, severely swollen glands, or severe sinus pain.
There is no cure for a cold. A common misconception is that a cold will require treatment with an antibiotic. However, antibiotics only have a place in treating bacterial infections not viral ones. It is also important to know that over-the-counter (OTC) cold products will not make it go away any sooner, but only provide relief from certain symptoms. OTC cold products can also cause serious side effects in some individuals therefore it is important to discuss your treatment options with your pharmacist or physician.
Although there are a variety of treatment options available to provide relief from the symptoms of the common cold, one of the best things we can do is take appropriate steps to prevent its occurrence in the first place. Though there has not been a vaccine developed for the common cold, there are some things we can do to slow the spread of this viral infection. Most importantly we need to wash our hands thoroughly and as often as possible. This is especially important in children as they are more susceptible to the common cold. Some other things we can do include always sneezing and coughing into tissues, not sharing drinking glasses or utensils with family members, and avoiding close prolonged exposure with someone suffering from a cold.
Most people will develop at least one cold over the fall and winter months. For this reason I feel it is important that we have a good understanding of this infection’s cause, symptoms, and treatment. Be sure to read my next article when I take a more in-depth look at the variety of treatment options available. As always, if you have any questions be sure to speak with your pharmacist or physician. Remember, your health is our number one priority!
Daniel Pike
Pharmacist
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