It’s the annual gift that keeps on giving, but when fall and winter come, the season traditionally turns snotty.
And the common cold is the gift that keeps on giving.
The common cold is a term commonly used to describe a variety of viral infections that affect the upper respiratory tract, causing symptoms such as a runny nose, cough, sore throat, and congestion.
Of course it is inevitable that everyone will get the virus.
Common causes of the common cold
Dr. Jonathan Redelinghuys of Medicare24 said that the most common way of spreading colds is through droplets, meaning that small droplets in the respiratory tract carry parts of the virus that then spread between people.
While the common cold is often seen as an inconvenience, it can cause severe complications for vulnerable populations, including those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and infants.
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Redelinghuys notes that a common misconception is that people with flu-like symptoms should take antibiotics. However, antibiotics can make cold symptoms worse.
Easing symptoms
He also said that while we all tend to run to the chemist for cold medicine, there is mixed evidence on the use of over-the-counter treatments, but taking medicines like paracetamol to reduce pain and fever is a safe bet.
He added: “Many over-the-counter preparations also contain vitamin C or zinc supplements, which have mixed evidence of their effectiveness. Cough medicines can help reduce irritation in the throat, but they do not relieve colds themselves.
However, the best way to treat a cold is to rely on your own immune system to recognize the virus and develop antibodies to deal with it.
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However, there are things you can do to reduce cold symptoms, such as using honey to relieve coughs or nasal decongestants for people with sinus congestion.
It is important to note that these treatments are aimed at reducing the symptoms and do not necessarily treat the cause of the cold.
A normal cold will come and go within a few days.
Difference between cold and flu
But we all call it the flu, and there is a difference between the common cold and the real flu.
And while Redelinghuys said it can be difficult to distinguish between the two, there is a difference in symptoms on the lookout for.
Flu symptoms are usually more severe than the common flu.
Influenza often causes constitutional symptoms, such as body aches and severe fever, as well as a runny nose and sore throat. The only way to be sure that you have a viral infection is to take a swab and send it to a laboratory for testing.
Redelinghuys said that when it comes to the flu, prevention is better than cure.
Influenza or the flu is best treated through vaccination before the fact, which can prevent the most common strains of the virus from circulating.
“There’s a misconception that being vaccinated will make you feel flush or cause your immune system to react, but that’s the point of the vaccine, because it creates a reaction from your immune system that can prevent infection.”
Redelinghuys warns that flu-like symptoms can also indicate a more severe viral infection.
There is a significant resurgence of respiratory syncytial virus, a pathogen that is dangerous for babies and the elderly.
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