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The common cold is caused by over 200 viruses and mostly affects children, who can get up to 12 colds a year. Adults usually get three colds a year and are less susceptible due to immunity. Symptoms include an itchy throat, stuffy nose, cough, and low-grade fever. A cold can last up to two weeks, and secondary infections may require antibiotics. Prevention includes limiting exposure, hand washing, not smoking, and staying hydrated.
The common cold is often a misunderstood disease. It can be caused by over 200 different viruses and most affect children, although adults usually get about three colds a year. Children in school can get up to 12 colds a year. More commonly, however, children get five to eight colds a year. Adults and older children tend not to be as susceptible to the common cold because they have developed immunity to some of the viruses that cause colds. However, parents tend to catch colds from their children, even though they may be ill for less time. Symptoms of the common cold include an itchy throat, stuffy nose, cough, and low-grade fever. Knowing the symptoms is helpful, because colds that include other symptoms can indicate an infection.
A common cold can last up to two weeks, although most people experience about a week of symptoms. Symptoms of the common cold usually occur within a few days of exposure to a causative virus. Those affected may initially notice an itchy throat or sneezing. The nose quickly becomes more congested, with the nasal discharge thickening and turning green to yellow over the first four to five days. If nasal discharge remains green for longer than the first week, those affected may have developed a sinus infection.
The common cold can be associated with a fever of up to 102° F. (38.88° C.). The fever associated with the common cold can last two to three days, usually peaking on the fourth or fifth day. Adults and adolescents may not have a fever. Fever beyond day 6 of a cold may indicate ear or sinus infections, or may be associated with bronchitis.
The cough usually begins within a few days of the onset of symptoms. The cough associated with the common cold may produce some mucus at first, and the cough usually persists for up to a week once other symptoms have gone away. Increased cough and green mucus production may indicate bronchitis, particularly if associated with fever. Also, young children with a significant cough may be susceptible to croup, a barking cough that is worse at night. Children with croup should be seen by a doctor to rule out infection.
Extreme sore throat accompanied by fever is not a common symptom of the common cold. It can indicate other viruses or bacterial infections such as strep throat. The fever is usually higher and tends not to resolve within a few days. Children with a lot of sore throat instead of an itchy throat should probably see a doctor.
A common cold is a virus and cannot be treated with antibiotics. However, some get secondary infections from a cold and need antibiotics to treat them. Secondary infections can include ear infections, sinus infections, tonsillitis, and bronchitis or pneumonia. Often children prone to ear infections will get them during a cold. Symptoms that indicate ear infections include complaints of ear pain, excessive crying in infants, and watery or infected eyes.
In healthy adults and older children, the common cold often resolves without complications. Those with weakened immune symptoms may be more prone to secondary infections and, therefore, prevent colds by limiting exposure to those who are sick, using waterless hand washing with alcohol in crowded public places, refraining from smoking, and drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, can help reduce the number of colds you get per year.
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