Common Cold

Subject: Community Health Nursing II

Overview

A viral infection of the upper respiratory tract causes a common cold. Usually, it isn't harmful. The symptoms of a common cold include a runny or stuffy nose, cough, sore throat, low-grade congestion, low-grade fever, and others. The rhinovirus is the most prevalent and highly contagious of the more than 100 viruses that can cause a common cold. When a sick person coughs, sneezes, or speaks, virus can spread by airborne droplets. However, it can also spread through direct hand-to-hand contact with a sick person or by exchanging contaminated items like cutlery, towels, toys, or phones. The common cold cannot be cured. Cold viruses are immune to antibiotics.

A viral infection of your nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract causes the common cold. Despite how it may feel at the moment, a regular cold is typically not harmful. If the runny nose, sore throat, and cough aren't the problem, then it can be the watery eyes, sneezing, and congestion—or all of the above. In reality, the signs and symptoms of a common cold can vary widely since any one of more than 100 viruses might cause it. The typical recovery time from a cold is one to two weeks. Consult your doctor if your symptoms don't disappear.

Symptoms:

Common cold symptoms typically show up one to three days after being exposed to a cold-causing virus. Common cold symptoms and signs include:

Runny or stuffy nose
Itchy or a sore throat
Cough
Congestion
Slight body aches or a mild headache
Sneezing
Watery eyes
Low-grade fever
Mild fatigue

Causes:

The rhinovirus is the most frequent cause of the common cold, while more than 100 viruses can also be to blame.

Through your lips, eyes, or nose, the cold virus enters your body. When a sick person coughs, sneezes, or talks, the virus can spread by airborne droplets. However, it can also spread through direct hand-to-hand contact with a sick person or by exchanging contaminated items like cutlery, towels, toys, or phones.

Treatments and Drugs:

The common cold cannot be cured. Cold viruses are immune to antibiotics. The majority of over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies contain negative effects and won't treat a typical cold or speed up its recovery. Here are some common cold cures' benefits and drawbacks.

Pain relievers:
- Many individuals use acetaminophen (Tylenol, among others) or other mild painkillers for fever, sore throat, and headaches.

Decongestant nasal sprays:
- Decongestant drops or sprays shouldn't be used by adults for longer than a few days because continued use can result in chronic mucous membrane inflammation. Additionally, decongestant drops or sprays should never be used on youngsters.
Cough syrups:
- Children's colds cannot be adequately treated by over-the-counter cough and cold medications, and they won't be cured or go gone any faster.

Management

Adequate fluid intake.
Encouraging rest.
Preventing chilling.
Increasing intake of vitamin C.
Antihistamines are used to relieve sneezing, rhinorrhoea, and nasal congestion.
Clear secretion from child's nose before feed using a cloth soaked in water, which has been twisted to from a pointed wick.

REFERENCE

Ambika Rai, Kabita Dahal. Community Health Nursing II. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2012 (reprint).
Dr.Panta SD (Immunization Medical Officer, WHO/IDP) (2005), Training Handout of Immunization
Mandal, G.N. Textbook of Adult Nursing. Kathmandu: Makalu Publication House, 2013.
MedicineNet. 1996. 2017 http://www.medicinenet.com/common_cold/article.htm
Medline Plus. 05 January 2017 https://medlineplus.gov/commoncold.html
O.P. GHAI, Gupta P, Paul V.K., 2005, Essential Paediatric, 6th edition revised & enlarged
Park’s, 2005, Textbook of Prevention & Social Medicine, 18th edition.
Web MD. 2005. 2017 http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/understanding-common-cold-basics#1

Things to remember

A common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract — your nose and throat.
A common cold is usually harmless, although it may not feel that way at the time.
Symptoms of a common cold usually appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. They are:

- Runny or stuffy nose

- Itchy or a sore throat

- Cough

- Congestion

- Slight body aches or a mild headache

- Sneezing

- Watery eyes

- Low-grade fever

- Mild fatigue

More than 100 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, is contagious.
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. But 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.
There's no cure for the common cold. Antibiotics are of no use against cold viruses.
Pain relievers and decongestant nasal spray are the remedies for common cold.
It can be managed by:

adequate fluid intake

_ encouraging rest

_ preventing chilling

_ increasing intake of vitamin C

_ antihistamines are used to relieve sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion.

_clear secretion from child's nose before feed using a cloth soaked in water, which has been twisted to from a pointed wick.

Questions and Answers

Define common cold? How is it cause and list down its symptoms?

Common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract — your nose and throat which is usually harmless.

More than 100 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and it's highly contagious.

Symptoms of a common cold usually appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms of a common cold may include: