What is common cold?

The symptoms of common cold are sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose. Common colds are most prevalent among children. Children are suffered with common cold problem six to ten times a year. Adults having average about two to four colds a year. Women of age 20 to 30 years, have more colds than men, possibly because of their closer contact with children. On average, individuals older than 60 have fewer than one cold a year. The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) estimates that, in 1994 around 66 million cases of the common cold was occurred in the United States.

More than 200 different viruses are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. Rhinoviruses causes an estimated 30 to 35 percent of all adult colds, and are most active in early fall, spring and summer. Others, such as parainfluenza, respiratory syncytial virus, Coronaviruses, adenoviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, orthomyxoviruses, paramyxoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and enteroviruses can cause up to 10 to 15 percent of adult colds. The causes of 30 to 50 percent of adult colds, presumed to be viral, remain unidentified. The most common cold-causing viruses survive better when humidity is low (the colder months of the year). Beginning in late August or early September, the incidence of colds increases slowly for a few weeks and remains high until March or April, when it declines.

Symptoms of the common cold usually begin two to three days after infection and often include nasal discharge, obstruction of nasal breathing, swelling of the sinus membranes, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and headache. Fever can reach up to 102o F in infants and young children. Virus-infected cells in the nose send out signals that recruit specialized white blood cells to the site of the infection. In turn, these cells emit a range of immune system chemicals such as kinins. These chemicals probably lead to the symptoms of the common cold by causing swelling and inflammation of the nasal membranes, leakage of proteins and fluid from capillaries and lymph vessels, and the increased production of mucus. Hand washing is the most effective way to keep from getting rhinovirus colds. Not touching the nose or eyes is another. If possible, one should avoid close, prolonged exposure to persons who have colds. Only symptomatic treatment is available for the common cold like bed rest, plenty of fluids, gargling with warm salt water, petroleum jelly for a raw nose, and aspirin or acetaminophen to relieve headache or fever.