 | Symptoms On The Common Cold (Part Two)
  - Go To Part 1 of Common Cold Symptoms (Back Pain To Fatigue) The phrase “common cold” is a general term used by patients in different ways, usually referring to symptoms of upper respiratory infection. These symptoms are nasal discharge and obstruction, sore throat, sneezing, feverishness, chilliness and often headache and muscle aching.
As the cold progresses, cough usually appears. Most specifically, the term means a febrile, infectious acute coryza. More broadly the term refers to acute upper respiratory infection and terms such as rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and chest cold and so on distinguish the sites of the major symptoms.
The symptoms on the common cold last 5 days to 2 weeks. If there is significant fever or more severe constitutional symptoms with the respiratory symptoms, we are no longer dealing with a common cold but with one of the other acute upper respiratory infections.
Many different viruses (over 100) are known to produce the symptoms of the common cold and about 10 per cent of colds seem associated simultaneously with more than one virus. Also allergic conditions affecting the nose can mimic the symptoms of a cold.
Colds are highly contagious and patients shed virus for about 2 days before the symptoms appear and during the first part of their symptomatic phase. Colds prevail among 15 per cent of the work population at any time during the winter and account for almost half of all work absences and one-quarter of the total time lost from work.
Three waves of colds appear yearly in the United States—in the fall just after the opening of school, in midwinter and in spring. Immunity after recovery is variable, depending on many factors including natural host resistance and which virus caused the cold in the first place.
The major complication of a cold is the secondary bacterial infection in the ears, nose, sinuses, bronchi or lungs.
Treatment of the common cold consists of good fluid intake, rest, prevention of chilling, aqueous nasal decongestants, bronchodilators and expectorants as needed. Warm salt water gargles soothe the sore throat; aspirin relieves the general constitutional symptoms.
Antibiotics are not indicated in the uncomplicated common cold. The use of disposable tissues and their hygienic disposal, covering of the mouth when coughing and avoidance of crowding are about all that can be offered in the way of prevention.
FEVER. In children, but seldom in adults, an abnormal rise in body temperature often accompanies such COLD symptoms as a sore throat, coughing, sneezing and a stuffed-up or runny nose.
HEADACHE. Headache may be a symptom of a COLD, but it also accompanies a wide range of disorders, from emotional stress to brain damage. A mild headache may be relieved by aspirin or acetaminophen. Frequent or severe headaches and headaches that last longer than 24 hours require medical attention.
HOARSENESS. Hoarseness may be caused by infections of the respiratory tract or may arise from simple irritation of the part of the tract called the larynx, which contains the vocal cords.
• Occasional hoarseness after smoking or overusing the voice is a symptom of LARYNGITIS, an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx. Stop smoking and talking; increasing moisture in the air with a vaporizer may also help relieve the condition.
If a child is hoarse, and has a barking cough and spasms in which he gasps for breath, he may have CROUP, a viral or bacterial infection of the larynx and lower respiratory tract. For a description and recommendations for treatment, see BREATHING DIFFICULTY.
If hoarseness continues beyond a month, you may have growths called CYSTS or POLYPS on the vocal cords or, in a rare instance, CANCER OF THE LARYNX. Consult a physician as soon as possible.
MUSCLE PAINS. Although muscle pains often accompany respiratory infections, they also, particularly if severe, may indicate disorders ranging from injury to MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY.
• Muscle pain that is particularly severe in the back and legs and is accompanied by sore throat, fever, headache and a dry cough may be caused by INFLUENZA. If fever rises above 102° F. in an adult or 103° F. in a child, if the cough becomes severe or productive of mucus, or if you are elderly or suffering from a chronic lung or heart ailment, consult a physician.
If a child suffers from muscle pain, a pink rash, runny nose, cough, red eyes and fever, the cause may be one of two related viral diseases, MEASLES or GERMAN MEASLES. Isolate the patient and consult a physician. A pregnant woman who has been exposed to German measles should consult a physician immediately.
NAUSEA. Nausea and vomiting are fairly common symptoms of cold and other respiratory infections, especially among children, but can also signal something as simple as stomach irritation or as serious as stomach poisoning. In a cold, nausea is usually brief; if it continues for several hours, consult a physician. Do not try to eat solid foods, but take liquids to prevent dehydration.
• Nausea and vomiting in children may be symptoms of any of three potentially dangerous diseases.
If nausea in a child occurs with vomiting, a reddish body rash, sore throat, swollen glands in the neck, and headache, the cause may be SCARLET FEVER, a bacterial infection. Consult a physician.
If vomiting accompanies violent coughing (sometimes eight to 10 times in a single breath), followed by gasping for air and a bluish face, the cause may be WHOOPING COUGH, a bacterial infection most common in children under two. The disease may start with typical cold symptoms, such as sneezing, a runny or stuffed-up nose and general listlessness. Consult a physician.
If a child’s nausea and vomiting occur with breathing and swallowing difficulty, fever, headache and severe sore throat, he may have DIPHTHERIA, a bacterial infection of the throat. Consult a physician immediately.
• Nausea and vomiting accompanied by breathing difficulty, neck and joint stiffness, sore throat, fever, headache and swallowing difficulty may be caused by POLIOMYELITIS, a viral infection of the nervous system. Consult a physician immediately.
NOSE, RUNNING. An unchecked flow of mucus in the nose may be caused by a respiratory infection or an allergy.
• A stuffed-up, runny nose accompanied by coughing, sneezing and sore throat is a classic symptom of a COLD or INFLUENZA. The runny nose helps rid your body of unwanted viruses. Reinforce the process by blowing your nose frequently, but blow gently: Blowing too hard can drive mucus into the sinuses and ears, where it may form a breeding ground forbacteria1 infection.
If your runny nose produces thick or bloody mucus after other cold symptoms have vanished, and you have headaches at the front of the head and general achiness, you may have SINUSITIS, a bacterial infection of the sinuses. Mild symptoms may be relieved by aspirin or acetaminophen and by warm, wet compresses applied to the forehead or alternate warm and cool compresses. If symptoms are severe or last beyond three weeks, consult a physician.
• A constant or periodic runny nose, especially during the pollen season, is probably a symptom of an ALLERGY. Antihistamines are effective in reducing allergy symptoms, but if symptoms are severe, consult a physician for treatment.
• A child’s runny nose accompanied by a pink rash, cough, fever, red eyes and muscle pain may be caused by one of two viral diseases, MEASLES Of GERMAN MEASLES. Isolate the patient and consult a physician. A pregnant woman who has been exposed to German measles should consult a physician immediately.
RINGING IN THE EARS. Ringing in the ears is often associated with ear infections following a COLD in children, but may also be caused by anemia or large doses of aspirin.
• Ringing in the ears accompanied by earache, a feeling of fullness in the ear, fever, dizziness and occasionally hearing loss may be due to OTIT1S MEDIA, a bacterial or viral infection of the middle ear, arising as a complication of a cold. Consult a physician.
SMELL, LOSS OF. A loss of smell is common with nasal congestion caused by an infection. Other causes include obstruction in the nose, damage to the nasal tissues or, rarely, a brain tumor.
The sense of smell is stimulated when particles inhaled from the air and mixed with nasal mucus come into contact with specialized olfactory cells in the upper part of the nose. When the nasal membranes are congested and the air flow over them is reduced or stopped, smelling is weakened or interrupted. Viruses may also directly damage the olfactory cells during an infection.
• A loss of smell, accompanied by a stuffed-up and runny nose, sneezing, sore throat and coughing, is probably caused by a COLD. The loss of smell is not serious and will usually end when you are able to breathe normally. | Most Popular Common Cold And Flu ArticlesHow Does The Common Cold Affect Your Body Palpitations And Need To Cough Cough With Frothy White Sputum Types Of Rheumatic Heart Fever Pain Constant Low Grade Fever Nutritional Requirements Needed To Treat Fever Flu Symptoms With Neck And Back Pain And Muscle Aches Who Discovered Influenza Is Canada Ready For A Pandemic Influenza | |
| SNEEZE; Sneezing, an early symptom of a COLD, occurs when mucous membranes in the nose are irritated. The reflex includes inhaling air, closing the larynx so that air pressure in the lungs is greatly increased, and suddenly reopening the larynx, sending a gush of air out through the nose and mouth. Do not try to suppress a sneeze: The added pressure can drive mucus into the sinuses and ears, where it may form a breeding ground for bacterial infections.
SORE THROAT. A sore throat is an inflammation caused by bacterial or viral infection or by irritation. Whatever the cause, you may get some relief by increasing moisture in the air with a vaporizer. Hard candy or throat lozenges will stimulate your salivary glands to moisten your throat, and drinking liquids both soothes the throat and replaces the fluids lost during an infection. You may relieve irritation by gargling with salt water (about one half teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water), by taking aspirin or acetaminophen, or by sucking lozenges containing local anesthetics. If any sore throat does not improve in five days, consult a physician.
• A sore throat associated with a stuffed-up or runny nose, coughing and sneezing is probably caused by a COLD.
• A sore throat that occurs with aches in the back and legs, fever, headache and a dry cough is probably due to INFLUENZA. If fever rises above 102° F. in an adult or 103° F. in a child, if the cough becomes severe or productive of mucus, or if you are elderly or have a chronic lung or heart ailment, consult a physician.
• A sore throat accompanied by symptoms other than those of a cold or influenza may signal any of a wide variety of diseases.
If a sore throat is accompanied by a cough that produces mucus and by fever and difficult breathing, you may have BRONCHITIS, a bacterial or viral infection of the bronchial tubes. Consult a physician if symptoms are severe or last beyond 10 days.
If a sore throat is accompanied by swallowing difficulty, red, swollen tonsils, fever and perhaps swollen glands in the neck, you may be suffering from TONSILLITIS, a bacterial or viral infection of the tonsils, more common in children than in adults. If the symptoms are so severe that breathing is difficult, consult a physician immediately. Mild symptoms may be relieved by the measures described at the beginning of this entry.
If a sore throat is associated with fever and with thick white or yellow spots at the back of the throat, you may have STREP THROAT, a bacterial infection. Consult a physician for a throat culture. Strep infections can lead to serious disorders of the heart and kidneys.
If a child’s sore throat occurs with a reddish body rash, fever, swollen glands in the neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, he may have SCARLET FEVER, a bacterial infection, Isolate the patient and consult a physician.
If a sore throat is accompanied by extreme fatigue, fever, swollen glands in the neck and jaws, achiness, headache and perhaps a rash, the cause may be INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS, a viral infection of the lymph nodes and spleen. Consult a physician.
If a sore throat occurs with breathing and swallowing difficulty, headache, nausea and vomiting, the cause may be DIPHTHERIA, a bacterial infection. Consult a physician immediately.
If a sore throat is accompanied by breathing and swallowing difficulty, neck and joint stiffness, nausea and vomiting, fever, and headache, you may have POLIOMYELITTS, a viral infection of the central nervous system. Consult a physician immediately.
STIFF OR SWOLLEN JOINTS. The achiness that sometimes accompanies a cold and often accompanies influenza does not generally alter the action or appearance of the joints. If your joints stiffen or swell during or after a respiratory infection, watch for additional symptoms that may indicate a serious illness.
• Swollen, painful joints (usually the knees, wrists and elbows), fever, general fatigue and perhaps a rash may be caused by RHEUMATIC FEVER, a bacterial infection that can eventually damage the heart. Consult a physician immediately.
• Stiff joints accompanied by a stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, sore throat, fever, headache and swallowing difficulty may be caused by POUOMYELMS, a viral infection of the nervous system. Consult a physician immediately.
STUFFED-UP NOSE. A stuffed-up nose can indicate an allergy or a viral infection of the nasal passages, such as a cold. It is caused by an inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose.
• A stuffed-up, runny nose occurring with a cough and sneeze probably indicates a COLD. Increasing the moisture in the air with a vaporizer may relieve the stuffiness. Decongestant drugs that shrink the mucous membranes also offer temporary relief.
• Constant or periodic nasal stuffiness, especially during the pollen season, is probably a sign of an ALLERGY. Antihistamines are generally effective in reducing allergy symptoms, but if the symptoms are severe, consult a physician.
SWOLLEN GLANDS. Lymph nodes at the front and sides of the neck and at the underside of the lower jaw often swell in response to respiratory infections, as part of the body’s defenses. In other cases, swollen glands may be symptoms of more serious diseases of the blood or of the glands themselves.
• Swollen glands near the ears accompanied by fever, difficult swallowing, back pain and headache may be caused by MUMPS, a viral infection of the salivary glands. In children, mumps may be treated by isolating patients and giving those aspirin or acetaminophen, and liquids; if symptoms are severe, consult a physician. Males over the age of puberty who are exposed to mumps and have not had them should consult a physician immediately.
• Swollen glands in the neck and jaws with extreme fatigue, fever, general achiness, headache, sore throat and perhaps a rash may be caused by INFECTIOUS MONONUCLEOSIS, a viral infection of the lymph nodes and spleen. Consult a physician. Bed rest, aspirin or acetaminophen, and a salt-water gargle (one half teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water) will help relieve discomfort.
• Swollen, tender glands in the neck accompanied by difficultly swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, sore throat and fever may be caused by TONSILLITIS, a bacterial or viral infection of the tonsils, more common in children than in adults. If the symptoms are severe, consult a physician. Mild symptoms may be relieved by aspirin or acetaminophen, a salt-water gargle (one half teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water) and small, frequent portions of liquid.
• Swollen glands accompanied by general fatigue and a loss of appetite or weight may be caused by either LEUKEMIA, cancer of the blood, or HODGKIN’S DISEASE, cancer of the lymph system. Consult a physician immediately.
TASTE, LOSS OF. A partial or complete loss of taste is often associated with viral infections of the upper respiratory tract and the digestive system. It is not generally serious and the sense returns when the infection ends.
Taste is sensed when foods mixed with liquid come in contact with taste buds on the tongue, but the sense of smell is also partially responsible for helping you make taste distinctions. When your mucous membranes are swollen and your nasal passages are plugged by a COLD or an Allergy, your ability to smell will be reduced or lost, and your ability to distinguish among flavors will accordingly be impaired.
THROAT SPOTS. White or yellow spots at the back of the throat, accompanied by fever and sore throat, may be symptoms of STREP THROAT, an infection of the throat by streptococcus bacteria. Consult t a physician to have a throat culture done. Strep infections can lead to serious heart and kidney disorders.
TICKLE IN THE THROAT. Tickle in the throat occurs during a COLD when mucus from the nose irritates the throat. It is not serious and usually ends in a few days. Normally your body provides saliva to lubricate the throat. When there is insufficient saliva, your inflamed, irritated throat may become dry. To relieve the tickle, bring moisture to the affected area by drinking liquids or by sucking hard candy or lozenges. Increasing the moisture in the air with a vaporizer may also help.
VOMITING. See NAUSEA We encourage you to bookmark this page so that you can find other symptoms. Read Part 1 | Twitter About The Common Cold Cure  | | Common Cold Tip Of The Day Colds are rather difficult to catch by way of the mouth. University of Wisconsin researchers tested couples, asking that in each couple, the cold-stricken partner kiss the unaffiliated one for 90 seconds. Only one caught cold. |
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