Common cold is one of the most common disease in the community. that is caused by virus. It affect any age group and both sex. Affected patients usually present with the following.
1. Headache
2. Running nose
3. Sneezing
4. Sorethroat
5. Heaviness of head
6. Earpain
7. Malaise
8. Tiredness
9. Fever
10. Cough
11. Bodypain
Spread of infection
Spread of infection is through contaminated secretions on the hand, towels, droplets or through air. There is high risk of transmission from one person to other. Practice of good personal hygiene is very important to prevent spread of infection. Affected persons may use nasal mask to prevent spread of infection.
Management
1. Patient should take adequate rest.
2. Plenty of water intake should be advised.
3. Frequent steam inhalation to relieve congestion in nose and throat.
4. Paracetamol(acetaminophen) for symptomatic relief.
5. Antihistamineto reduce congestion.
Symptoms usually resolve in 4 to 10 days
Complication of common cold.
1. Asthmatic and COPD patients experience exacerbation of symptoms.
2. Pneumonia.
3. Tonsillitis.
4. Sinusitis.
5. Infection and discharge from ear (otitis media)
6. Infection of eye(conjunctivitis) and redness of eye.
