How to treat Common cold?

Science report

Today’s topic is: How to treat Common Cold?

Introduction

Hello. Today I am introducing another topic category: Medicine. Where I will be telling you how to treat common ailments.

Common cold

The common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx. Signs and symptoms may appear less than two days after exposure to the virus. These may include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days, but some symptoms may last up to three weeks. Occasionally, those with other health problems may develop pneumonia.

They spread through the air during close contact with infected people or indirectly through contact with objects in the environment, followed by transfer to the mouth or nose.

Signs and symptoms

The typical symptoms of a cold include cough, runny nose, sneezing, blockage of the nasal cavity and a sore throat, sometimes accompanied by muscle ache, fatigue and headache. In adults, a fever is generally not present but it is common in infants and young children. 

A cold usually begins with fatigue, a feeling of being chilled, sneezing, and a headache, followed in a couple of days by a runny nose and cough. Symptoms may begin within sixteen hours of exposure and typically peak two to four days after onset. They usually resolve in seven to ten days, but some can last for up to three weeks. The average duration of cough is eighteen days and in some cases, people develop a post-viral cough which can linger after the infection is gone.

Fact: Actually, Coronaviruses are a group of viruses known for causing the common cold.

Transmission 

We know that there are many modes of transmission. The spread of the Common cold occurs with air transmission(sneezes, coughs).

So if you suspect someone(sus) having symptoms of cold stay away from him!! Or wear a mask.

Prevention

We all know prevention\precaution is better than cure. The only useful ways to reduce the spread of cold viruses are physical measures such as using correct handwashing technique and face masks. Isolation or quarantine is not used as the disease is so widespread and symptoms are nonspecific. There is no vaccine to protect against the common cold. Vaccination has proven difficult as there are many viruses involved and they mutate rapidly. The creation of a broadly effective vaccine is, therefore, highly improbable.

Regular hand washing appears to be effective in reducing the transmission of cold viruses, especially among children. Whether the addition of antivirals or antibacterials to normal handwashing provides greater benefit is unknown. Wearing face masks when around people who are infected may be beneficial; however, there is insufficient evidence for maintaining a greater social distance.

Remedies

There are many homemade remedies like:

Ginger tea

Steam

Saltwater gargle

Keep hydrated.

Did you know

The fever is not harmful but helpful for the body to fight. Because the body needs a high temperature to fight foreign bodies.

Therefore whenever you have a fever, that’s an immune response against the foreign bodies.

Bye! Have a great time.