In the vast majority of cases, despite feeling ill, with sneezing, sore throat,
cough, and runny nose, a cold is a self-limiting infection; this means
it gets better on its own without requiring any special treatment.
Most people get better within 1 week although, in some cases, it may last longer.
In this article, the MNT Knowledge Center will look at ways to treat the symptoms of a cold and get some relief.
Fast facts on how to treat a cold:
- Colds will most likely go away on their own.
- Treatment looks to make life easier and more manageable in the meantime.
- There is no cure for the common cold, so, whatever remedies are taken only help treat the symptoms.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics
are prescribed for bacterial infections. Colds are caused by viruses
and do not respond to antibiotics. Antibiotics will not help patients
get better any faster, neither will they prevent patients from passing
it on to other people.
An article published in the BMJ
said that fear of complications is not a good enough reason to
prescribe antibiotics for the common cold. However, it adds that, "as
far as the elderly are concerned, antibiotics do significantly lessen
the risk of pneumonia following a chest infection."
Echinacea
Echinacea,
also known as purple coneflower is a native North American wild flower.
Indigenous peoples use it as an herbal remedy for a variety of
illnesses and conditions. Studies have produced, and continue to
produce, conflicting results.
As an example, a 2007 study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases,
found that the herbal remedy reduced the duration of a cold by an
average of 1.4 days and lowered a person's chance of catching a cold by
58 percent.
Conversely, researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine reported in Annals of Internal Medicine that Echinacea has no big impact on the common cold, and only reduces the duration of symptoms "by half a day at the most."
Water
Sweating and runny noses are common when people have a cold; these symptoms can cause dehydration. This loss of fluids needs to be constantly replaced. The best drink is water.
When someone has a cold, they should drink plenty of water. Remember that coffee and caffeinated sodas can cause dehydration - so consider avoiding them.
Chicken soup
Experts believe that chicken soup really does help relieve the
symptoms of colds. It is believed to inhibit the movement of
neutrophils, immune system cells that cause inflammation, and also the movement of mucus.
Chicken soup is also watery and may help with dehydration.
Rest
Getting plenty of rest will not only help alleviate some of the
symptoms, and make people feel less miserable, it may also reduce the
duration of their cold. Rest helps the immune system fight off the viral
infection more effectively.
Hygiene
Good hygiene is important to prevent the spread of infection. Stay away from work or school while not feeling well.
Cover the mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and throw it
away into a trash can immediately. Make sure to wash hands thoroughly
with warm water and soap.
If there are no tissues and a person coughs or sneezes, doctors
recommend doing so into the inner part of the elbow, because that part
of the body does not then contaminate surfaces.
Salt water
Salt water gargle - making a solution consisting of
one-quarter teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water and
gargling it may provide some temporary relief for sore throat symptoms. A
saline solution can help draw excess fluid from inflamed tissues in the
back of the throat, resulting in less pain. Thick mucus may also become
loosened, making it easier to expel.
Nasal saline drops - available from pharmacies,
these may help young babies with nasal congestions. Nasal saline drops
may be a useful alternative to salt solutions for gargling (getting
babies and very young children to gargle is virtually impossible).
Steam inhalation
The steam may help alleviate symptoms of congestion. For a traditional steam inhalation:
- Half fill a pan with water and bring it to the boil.
- Place the pan on a sturdy table; make sure there is a towel or heat-resistant mat under it.
- Patients can sit with their head over the pan and cover themselves with a towel.
- Breathe deeply with eyes closed.
- Make sure none of the steam gets into the eyes.
Do not use steam inhalation with small children - there is a risk of
scalding. Small children may benefit from standing close to a hot shower
and breathing in the steam.
Zinc
Previous studies have had mixed results regarding the benefits of
zinc for fighting colds. Most positive studies say the zinc should be
taken within 24 hours of the onset of symptoms.
Canadian researchers recently found
that zinc tends to work better with adults than with children; they
added that adverse effects, especially when higher doses are taken, are
common. A serious adverse side effect is permanent anosmia, or lack of
smell. Before using zinc, it is important to know which preparation and
dosage you are taking.
Vitamin C
A 2013 Cochrane review
examined Vitamin C's effects on the common cold. The review concluded
that there was a reduction in duration of symptoms in people who were
already taking at least 200 milligrams a day of vitamin C supplements. Once symptoms had begun, they found no benefit to taking Vitamin C.
Antihistamines
Sedating (first generation) antihistamines may alleviate some cold
symptoms slightly, such as the watery eyes, runny nose, coughs, and
sneezes. Experts are not sure, though, whether the benefits of using
antihistamines really outweigh the side effects. Studies have come back
with mixed results.
Many specialists say that antihistamines dry up nasal membranes,
which slows down mucus flow, undermining the nasal passages' ability to
get rid of germs.
A recent review, published in PLOS,
demonstrated that antihistamines may have a short term effect on
symptoms, but this occurred only in adults during the first 2 days of
treatment. There is not enough evidence in children to determine the
efficacy of this treatment. Again, the side effects may outweight the
benefits.
Decongestants
Decongestants are medications that shrink the swollen membranes in
the nose, allowing for easier breathing. There are oral or nasal
decongestants. Unless a doctor says so, nasal decongestants should not
be used for more than 5 days - longer usage may actually block up the
nose more.
Patients with hypertension
should not use decongestants, unless they are under a doctor's
supervision. Many researchers are not sure whether decongestants really
work, or whether they are worth recommending because they only work for a
very short time. Nasal decongestants should not be used by patients on
MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) antidepressants.
Cough medicines
Over-the-counter cough medicines may be hazardous for children. The
FDA says they should not be given to children younger than 2.
Fever and pain treatment
Painkillers and antipyretics (drugs to reduce fever)
may be helpful. Although a high fever might not be desirable, a slight
fever is not such a bad thing - it helps the body fight off infections
more rapidly. When body temperature rises, viruses and bacteria find it
harder to reproduce. With the exception of very young patients, doctors
no longer recommend trying to bring a slight fever down.
However, if patients feel bothered and uncomfortable, an antipyretic is usually fine. Aspirin should only be taken by older adults, not children or young adults.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are effective for the treatment of both
fever and pain. Check with a doctor or a qualified pharmacist for the
correct dosage and schedule for these medications. Overmedication may
cause liver injury or failure or kidney injury or failure.
Air humidifers
During the cold months, when the central heating dries the air out,
an air humidifier will help keep the throat and nasal passages moist.
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