My Life is Vital™ - All About the Common Cold

Cold & Flu Center

All About the Common Cold

Vital Healthcare Group

A cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. Colds usually last around a week. If cold symptoms last longer than a week, it may be a sign of an infection or allergy. Sometimes people ask their doctors for medicines like antibiotics when they have common cold symptoms. However, antibiotics treat bacterial infections not viruses like cold. Fatigue, stress, or the cold virus itself may promote infection. Infections weaken your body’s immune system.

What are cold causes?

Cold causes include more than 100 different viruses. The most common cold cause is the rhinovirus. Cold viruses can affect your airways, sinuses, throat, voice box, and bronchial tubes.

What are cold symptoms?

Cold symptoms usually start with an itchy or sore throat. Then you might have cold symptoms like sneezing, nasal congestion, watery eyes, and a lot of mucus drainage. With a common cold, you might feel very tired and sometimes you can have a fever.

Postnasal drip causes the sore throat and cough that accompany colds. Through the course of the cold, the nasal mucus will become thicker and discolored.

How are colds spread?

The cold virus enters your body through your nose or mouth. Colds are spread by touching someone who has a cold or sharing common objects (telephone, computer keyboard, doorknob, drinking glass). If you aren’t cautious about hand washing, you can spread your cold to those around you. In addition, frequent hand washing may keep you from catching someone else’s cold.

How long does a common cold last?

Most colds last around a week. When cold symptoms linger longer than a week, it may be a sign of a bacterial infection in the sinuses, ears, or lungs. If you have lingering cold symptoms, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can advise you about the best home remedies and over-the-counter cold treatments.

Can a cold be prevented?

You can avoid catching a cold by staying away from those who are sick with colds. If you or a family member gets a cold, stay home to keep others from getting sick. Also, keep your toothbrushes stored separately and don’t use the same tube of toothpaste.

Keep your hands washed. Studies show that only about half of people wash their hands after using public bathrooms. So avoid faucets and doorknobs in these areas if possible or touch them using disposable paper towels.

How is a cold treated?

Increase rest and healing sleep. Plan rest times throughout the day to give your body a chance to gain strength.

Run the humidifier. If the air is dry, a warm mist humidifier or vaporizer can moisten the air and help ease congestion with a cold. Be sure to keep the humidifier clean, however, to prevent the growth of bacteria and molds.

In addition, drink plenty of clear liquids to keep your body hydrated. Your doctor may recommend medications such as decongestants to help open your nasal passages, but there is no cure for a cold.

When to call the doctor

If your cold symptoms have worsened after one week or if you have a fever of 101 degrees F or higher, call your doctor. You may have a secondary infection such as a sinus or ear infection, strep throat, bronchitis, or pneumonia.

While antibiotics are not useful against the common cold, they may be necessary for treating secondary infections.