Common cold – causes, symptoms & therapy

The common cold, often also referred to as a flu infection, is a medically not clearly defined term for an acute infectious disease caused by cold viruses.

The viruses penetrate the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and respiratory tract, multiply there and thus trigger inflammatory reactions with swelling, redness and pain.

In contrast to a ‘real’ viral flu ( influenza ), a cold is usually much more harmless. On average, everyone gets a cold 2-3 times a year. Children get sick much more often.

causes

A cold is usually caused by viruses. These cold viruses are transmitted by contagion, the so-called droplet infection. If you have been infected with cold viruses, it usually takes about 1 to 3 days before the first signs of the cold become noticeable. There is a sore throat, hoarseness , runny nose and cough.Infection occurs not only through physical contact, but also through inhalation. By sneezing, speaking or coughing, the pathogens are literally “sprayed”. A cold occurs particularly in the cold season because people are closer together in closed rooms.

Hypothermia and freezing also weaken the body’s defense system. This is one reason why colds often appear in the summer as well. An example is wet swimwear, which is not immediately exchanged for dry ones at the beach or pool. It is not uncommon for people who are susceptible to infections to suffer from air conditioning systems in offices, cars, hotels or shopping centers that are set too low and react to this with a cold.

symptoms

Symptoms of cold:

• sore throat

• Sore throat

• Cough

• headache

• exhaustion

• earache

• Sniffles

• runny nose

Almost everyone gets a cold about once or twice a year. Typical first symptoms of a cold are a sore throat with a feeling of dryness, scratching and soreness in the back of the throat. This is red and swollen.

The lymph nodes in the neck and lower jaw are often swollen when you have a cold. In addition, there are headaches, sometimes earaches, general exhaustion and malaise. As a result of the cold, there is a tingling in the nose, constant urge to sneeze and a runny nose.

Sometimes a cold is the only sign of a cold. The nasal mucosa swells and secretes secretions. The nose feels blocked, which makes nasal breathing worse, often even impossible.

Course

As a rule, a cold begins with a slight scratching in the throat (sore throat). The initial runny nose with watery secretion later turns into a sticky cold with viscous, viscous secretion. The blocked nose also changes the voice. The sense of smell and taste are severely limited when you have a cold.

Many people get a cough as the cold progresses, which also makes it difficult to breathe and, after an initial cough, can cause hard and painful coughing, especially at the beginning.

At the beginning there is usually a dry , irritating cough , which after about two to three days changes into a wet mucus cough due to viscous mucus secretion. If the trachea and bronchi are also affected, a harmless cold can develop into a serious illness, such as bronchitis .

complications

If a cold is not cured properly, there is a risk of serious complications. The cold viruses can spread from the nasal mucosa to the bronchi, pharynx, throat, auditory canals and frontal and sinus cavities. This can lead to a sinus infection or pneumonia , for example. If the larynx is affected, a temporary loss of voice or permanent voice changes can occur. In the worst case, a delayed cold can lead to life-threatening heart muscle inflammation, which can lead to permanent cardiac insufficiency. If the airways are already overloaded, the risk of developing asthma also increases.

A typical secondary disease is the so-called lateral angina, which in turn can promote rheumatic fever, abscess or middle ear infection . Long-lasting colds can also cause depressive moods and exacerbate existing psychological problems. Complications can also arise when treating a cold. Drugs can cause side effects and trigger allergies. Improperly used home remedies and measures can also lead to a worsening of the symptoms, for example by going to the sauna prematurely or exercising in the acute phase.

treatment and therapy

In the case of a dry throat, lozenges with Iceland moss, for example, have proven to be soothing. Painful swallowing problems are improved by preparations such as those containing benzocaine or ambrozol or the cooling effects of eucalyptus oil or menthol. Emser salt is ideal for moistening the mucous membrane of the throat. The severely swollen nasal mucous membrane during a cold swells with nasal drops or sprays, for example with the active ingredient xylometazoline or oxymetazoline. High-dose dexpanthenol in a nasal spray also promotes healing of the inflamed nasal mucosa.

By decongesting the nasal mucosa, a significant freedom from symptoms with better nasal breathing and reduced secretion flow is achieved in a very short time. Nose drops or sprays are usually unavoidable, especially at night, since a blocked nose not only hinders falling asleep but also sleeping through the night. Additional nasal drops or sprays with table salt, sea salt or Emser salt help to liquefy viscous secretion, which makes it easier to drain or blow out, but they do not have a decongestant effect.

Cough suppressants (antitussive) are suitable for the dry cough , for example with dextromethorphan, pentoxyverine or dropropizine. In milder cases, anti-irritant medicinal plants such as Iceland moss or homeopathic cough medicine, for example sundew herb, are also promising. Coughing up mucus should be supported with an expectorant, as it is important that stubborn secretions are removed (coughed up) from the airways. Preparations with bromhexine, ambroxol, acetylcysteine ​​(ACC) prove to be helpful. Herbal preparations such as thyme herb can also effectively relieve a cough.

Preparations with well-dosed vitamin C and cold teas support the recovery process from a cold. Warm clothing and dry feet are particularly important in the cold season. In general, excessive stress and exertion should be avoided during a cold. A day in bed can work wonders.

If a simple cold develops into a strong feeling of illness with rapid exhaustion, exhaustion and high fever, it can be a real flu (influenza). This belongs in immediate medical treatment.

prevention

There is no preventive vaccination against the common cold (in contrast to the flu vaccination). In principle, everything that strengthens the immune system is useful for preventing a cold. Regular visits to the sauna, for example, can contribute to this. A healthy lifestyle with lots of exercise in the fresh air, sufficient sleep and a diet rich in vitamins are basic requirements for strengthening the immune system.

Sensitive people should not stay in rooms with air conditioning. Drafts in rooms should also be avoided. Wet swimwear must be exchanged for dry ones immediately.The safest way to prevent a cold would be to avoid contact with cold viruses entirely, which of course is not always possible when you consider how many people sniffle and cough every day in department stores, on the bus or train, for example, and thus promote droplet infection .

However, you should keep as far away as possible from people who have a cold. Shaking hands and kissing should be avoided when you have a cold. Under no circumstances should cutlery be shared.

If you have come into contact with someone who has a cold, you should not touch any food with your hands. You should also avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and wash your hands as soon as possible.

Telephone receivers, railings, doorknobs or other objects can also carry cold viruses, which is why these objects should occasionally be disinfected and your hands should be washed more often, especially during major cold seasons. Out of courtesy and to avoid spreading a cold yourself, you should always put your hand or a handkerchief in front of your mouth and nose when you sneeze and/or cough. Handkerchiefs should be disposed of immediately after use.

↳ Further information: Home remedies for colds