Common Cold Revisited
Keywords:
Common Cold, URI, Nasopharyngitis, Prevention, Treatment
Abstract
The common cold, or upper respiratory tract infection, is one of the leading reasons for physician visits. Its impact on society and health care is large.
Rhinoviruses are the most frequent cause. The virus is spread by hand contact with secretions from an infected person (direct or indirect) or aerosol of the secretions and virus. There is no proven treatment for the common cold. Therefore, the common cold is treated symptomatically. Prophylactic probiotics, zinc sulphate, nasal saline irrigation, and the herbal preparations containing Echinacea angustifolia reduce the incidence of cold. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and some herbal preparations, including Echinacea purpurea, improve symptoms. Hand hygiene reduces the spread of viruses that cause cold illnesses.
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2. Hsiao CJ, Cherry DK, Beatty PC, Rechtsteiner EA. National Ambula¬tory Medical Care Survey: 2007 summary. Natl Health Stat Report. 2010;(27):1-32.
3. Kirkpatrick GL. The common cold. Primary Care.1996;23(4):657–75.
4. Fendrick AM, Monto AS, Nightengale B, Sarnes M. The economic burden of non-influenza-related viral respiratorytract infection in the United States. Archives of Internal Medicine.2003;163(4):487–94.
5. HerløvNielsenH,Permin H. Common cold--risk factors, transmission and treatment. UgeskrLaeger. 2001; 8;163(41):56436.
6. Lauber B. The common cold. J Gen Intern Med.1996;11:229– 236
7. Chow AW, Benninger MS, Brook I, Brozek JL, Goldstein EJ, Hicks LA et al. IDSA clinical practice guideline for acute bacterial rhinosinusitis in children and adults. Clin Infect Dis. 2012;54(8):e72-e112.
8. Chung LP, Waterer GW. Genetic predisposition to respiratory infection and sepsis. Crit RevClin Lab Sci.2011;48(5- 6):250-68.
9. Simasek M, Blandino DA. Treatment of the common cold. American Family Physician.2007;75(4):515–20.
10. Hilding DA. The Common Cold. Ear Nose Throat J. 1994 Sep;73(9):639-43
11. Lessler J, Reich NG, Brookmeyer R et al. Incubation periods of acute respiratory viral infections: a systematic review. Lancet infect dis.2009;9:291-300.
12. Meriluoto M, Hedman L, Tanner L, Simell V, Mäkinen M, Simell S et al. Association of human bocavirus 1 infection with respiratory disease in childhood follow-up study, Finland. Emerg Infect Dis.2012;18(2):264-71
13. Mäkelä MJ, Puhakka T, Ruuskanen O et al. Viruses and bacteria in the etiology of the common cold. J ClinMicrobiol.1998; 36: 539-42
14. Wald ER, Guerra N, Byers C. Upper respiratory tract infections in young children: duration of and frequency of complications. Pediatrics.1991;87(2):129-33
15. Centor RM, Witherspoon JM et al. The Diagnosis of Strep Throat in Adults in the Emergency Room,Med Decis Making. 1981;1(3): 239-246
16. McIsaac WJ, White D, Tannenbaum D et al. A clinical score to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use in patients with sore throat. CMAJ.1998;158:75-83.
17. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Common Cold. Available at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/ commoncold/Pages/default.aspx. Accessed Apr 25, 2015.
18. Taverner D, Latte J. Nasal decongestants for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2007;(1):CD001953.
19. De Sutter AIM, van Driel ML, Kumar AA et al. Oral antihistamine– decongestant–analgesic combinations for the common cold. Cochrane database Syst Rev.2012;2:CD004976.
20. Bolser DC. Cough suppressant and pharmacologic protussive therapy: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Chest.2006;129(1 suppl):238S-249S.
21. Kim SY, Chang YJ, Cho HM, Hwang YW, Moon YS. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009;(3):CD006362.
22. Graham NM1, Burrell CJ, Douglas RM, Debelle P, Davies L.Adverse effects of aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen on immune function, viral shedding, and clinical status in rhinovirus-infected volunteers. J Infect Dis. 1990;162(6):1277- 82.
23. Paul IM, Beiler JS, King TS et al. Vapor rub, petrolatum, and no treatment for children with nocturnal cough and cold symptoms. Pediatrics.2010;126:1092-9.
24. Saxena RC, Singh R, Kumar P et al. A randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical evaluation of extract of Andrographispaniculata (Kalm Cold) in patients with uncomplicated upper respiratory tract infection. Phytomedicine.2010;17(3-4):178-185.
25. Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2011;(2):CD001364.
26. Fashner J, Ericson K, Werner S.Treatment of the common cold in children and adults. Am Fam Physician. 2012;86(2):153- 159
27. Douglas RM, Hemilä H, Chalker E, Treacy B. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2007;(3): CD000980.
28. Guppy MP, Mickan SM, Del Mar CB, Thorning S, Rack A. Advising patients to increase fluid intake for treating acute respiratory infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2011;(2):CD004419
29. Singh M, Singh M. Heated, humidified air for the common cold. Cochrane Database SystRev.2011;(5):CD001728
30. Jefferson TO, Tyrrell D. Antivirals for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jul 18;(3):CD00274
31. Jefferson T, Del Mar CB, Dooley L et al. Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2011;(7):CD006207.
32. Hao Q, Lu Z, Dong BR et al. Probiotics for preventing acute upper respiratory tract infections. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.2011; (9):CD006895.
33. Satomura K, Kitamura T, Kawamura T et al. Prevention of upper respiratory tract infections by gargling: a randomized trial. Am J Prev Med.2005;29:302-7.
34. Allan MG, Arroll B. Prevention and treatment of the common cold: making sense of the evidence. CMAJ.2014, 186(3): 190-9.
Published
2019-08-09
How to Cite
Arun Tyagi, Waran M, Patel S. (2019). Common Cold Revisited. The Indian Practitioner, 68(9), 54-58. Retrieved from https://articles.theindianpractitioner.com/index.php/tip/article/view/564
Section
Review article
