Columnists

The Common Cold

Issue 51.14

Did you know there are thousands of viruses that can cause ‘the common cold’?  The most common is the rhinovirus family which in its own family has well over 100 different viruses!  That is why you could never get vaccinated again the common cold.

Usually, the common cold will present with a number of symptoms that is often mistaken for ‘the flu’.  Symptoms can range from runny nose, congestion, sneezing, headache, sore throat, muscle aches, low grade fever, and cough.  There symptoms are usually limited and will resolve on their own within about two weeks.  Taking an antibiotic will not kill a virus and therefore will not treat the common cold.

Complications can arise from having a common cold.  These include sinus infection, ear infection, bronchitis and pneumonia.  These may require an antibiotic to resolve and if you think your symptoms have progressed into more than a cold, you should be seen by your doctor.  Other things for which to be seen include if your symptoms persist for more than two weeks, fever over 100.4 for more than three days, shortness of breath, chest pain, severe facial pain or headache.

The viruses that can cause the common cold are highly contagious.  The virus can be passed in respiratory droplets when you cough or sneeze up to three feet in distance.  Anyone within a three foot radius of you can breathe in the virus from the air.  It is also easily transmissible from direct contact.  If someone has the virus on their skin such as their hands and then touches an object that you then touch, you can pick it up on your skin and if you touch your face area, you can contract the common cold.  Viruses can sometimes live outside of the body as long as 24 hours.

If you feel your illness has progressed further, you can see a primary care doctor such as Karen Radley, MD for treatment.

Comments are closed.