NASOPHARYNGITIS, ACUTE (Common Cold)

BASIC INFORMATION

DESCRIPTION

The common cold is a contagious viral infection of the

upper-respiratory tract. This includes the nose, throat,

and sinuses. A cold also affects the ears and lungs. Colds

are the most common disease in the world. Colds affect

all ages (often infants and children) and may occur 2 to

10 times in a year in an individual.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Stuffy or runny nose. Nasal discharge may be watery

at first, becoming thick and yellow.

• Throat feels scratchy or sore.

• Coughing and sneezing.

• Loss of voice.

• Mild headache. Watering eyes.

• Fatigue.

• Low-grade fever.

• Cold symptoms start slowly. Flu symptoms are more

sudden and include higher fever, major aches, chills,

sweats, weakness, possible severe sore throat, cough,

and chest discomfort.

CAUSES

Any of at least 200 virus strains. Virus particles spread

through the air or from person-to-person contact. Colds

are often spread with hand-shaking.

RISK INCREASES WITH

•Winter (colds are most frequent in cold weather).

• Children attending school or daycare.

• Household member who has a cold.

• Crowded or unclean living conditions.

• Stress, fatigue, and allergies.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• To prevent spreading a cold to others, avoid contact

if possible during the contagious phase (first 2–4 days).

•Wash hands often, especially after blowing your nose

or before handling food.

• Avoid crowded places when possible, especially during

the winter.

• Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Include plenty of citrus

fruits and other sources of vitamin C.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

Recovery in 7 to 14 days.

POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS

Bacterial infections of the ears, throat, sinuses, or lungs.

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

• There is no cure for a cold. Self-care and time are

usually all that is needed for a cold. There are manyremedies for cold symptoms. They include nonprescription

cold preparations, getting extra rest, drinking

plenty of fluids, and others that may be suggested by

friends and family members. One or more of these may

help you feel better until the body’s defenses fight off

the germs.

•Don’t smoke. It can further irritate the nasal passages.

• For a baby too young to blow his or her nose, use an

infant nasal aspirator. Don’t insert cotton swabs into a

child’s nostrils.

MEDICATIONS

No drugs, including antibiotics, can cure the common

cold. To help relieve symptoms, adults may use nonprescription

drugs, such as acetaminophen, decongestants,

nose drops or sprays, cough remedies, and throat

lozenges. It is best to get a product that works for one

symptom, such as a runny nose, rather than a multisymptom

product. If you take other drugs, talk to your

health care provider or pharmacist about possible drug

interactions. For colds in children, don’t use any nonprescription

product unless advised by a health care

provider or the label states that it can be used for your

child’s age.

ACTIVITY

Bed rest is not needed. Do reduce activity and exercise.

DIET

• Regular diet. Drink extra fluids, including water, fruit

juice, tea, and carbonated drinks.

• Hot fluids (e.g., chicken soup) may help keep nasal

passages moist, soothe sore throat, and thin out mucus.

NOTIFY OUR OFFICE IF

• You have increased throat pain, or white or yellow

spots on the tonsils or other parts of the throat.

• You have long coughing episodes. Your cough produces

thick, yellow-green or gray sputum. You have a

cough that lasts longer than 10 days.

• A fever lasts several days, or is over 101°F (38.3°C).

• You have chills, chest pain, or shortness of breath.

• You develop a painful earache or severe headache.

• You develop a skin rash or bruised skin.

• You feel pain in the teeth or over the sinuses.

• You develop enlarged, tender glands in the neck.

• Infant with a cold unable to bottle-feed or breast-feed.