Cold is a disease which can infect soft lining of the nose. The cold can be due to over 100 different kinds of cold and there can be runny nose with cold which can be recovered within a week. There can be influenza as well with same symptoms. The children and adults can have cold in winter. The cold can attack people two to four times a year.
The infection of the cold may spread through coughing and sneezing by sufferer. It can also spread by hands placed on nose and eyes and it is one of the most common ways of catching a cold.
There can be sore throat, sneezing, runny nose with thicker and yellow water like secretion, headache, coughing, unwell feeling, oppressive feelings in ears, and high temperature in adults and children with cold.
You should try to stay away from person with cold as much as possible. There can be greater risk of infection in the crowded places. You should avoid touching nose or eyes after physical contact of person with cold and wash your hands after blowing your nose. The rooms should kept airy.
You should consult with your doctor in case there is infection with cold.
There can be no serious problems with common cold and its symptoms can disappear within week or two. There can be inflammation of the eyes, tonsillitis, pneumonia, sinusitis and inflammation of middle ear with cold and these complications can be due to germs in the mucous membrane.
The ordinary cold can not be treated in a effective way as it can go away easily within one or two weeks and the sufferer needs not to go to doctor. The antibiotics are not appropriate with cold as it can be due to virus.
You should drink plenty of non alcoholic fluids like water with cold especially for children. Warm drinks can be effective as well. You should sleep with head on high pillow. The daily activities should be effective with cold except to become tired. The children should take plenty of rest with cold. You should avoid smoking which can irritate mucous membrane.
You should use steam inhalations in case of blocked nose and chesty which can loosen mucous. The steam should be inhaled by placing towel on your head, closing eyes and breathing deeply. This method should not be used by the children but they can use steamy bathrooms. You can use different over the counter medicines in case of cough, nasal congestion, headache and sore throat.
Nasal decongestants can be used to ease breathing but should consult with your doctor before using it. The cough can colds may go away on their own in children in few days. There can be side effects like allergic reactions and effects on sleeps with over the counter coughs and cold medicines in children under six years age. You can use paracetamol or ibuprofen if child fever with cold.
Saline nasal drops can be used in the children who have difficulty in feeding due to stuffy nose to clear nasal secretion. There can also be relief with vapour rubs and inhalant decongestants by applying it on the clothing of children and it should not be applied underneath or inside the nose. There should be use of only one cough or cold medicine at the same time. You should consult with your doctor before using any medicine.