Common cold symptom

The common cold generally includes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. Besides, you may have a sore throat, cough, headache, or another symptoms. There are over 200 viruses causing a cold.

Causes, incidence, and danger elements

We call it the “common cold” for good reason. You and your kids will probably have more colds than any other type of sickness. Children average three to eight colds per year. They keep getting them throughout childhood. Parents often get them from the children. Colds are the most common cause that children are absent from school and parents miss work.

Children usually get colds from other children. When a new stress is introduced into a school or day care, it quickly goes through the class.

Colds can come year-round, but they occur mostly in the winter (even in areas with mild winters). In areas where there is no winter, colds are most common during the wet day.

When someone has a cold, their runny nose is teeming with cold viruses. Sneezing, nose-blowing, and nose-wiping spread the virus. You can catch a cold by inhaling the virus if you are sitting near someone who sneezes, or by touching your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something infected by the virus. People are most infectious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold, and usually not contagious at all by day 7 to 10.

Symptoms

The three most common symptoms of a cold are:
•    Runny nose
•    Nasal congestion
•    Sneezing

Adults and older children with colds generally have minimal or no fever. Young children, however, often run a fever around 100-102°F. Once you "caught" a cold, the symptoms usually begin in 2 or 3 days, though it may take a week. Typically, an irritated nose or scratchy throat is the first sign, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.

Within one to three days, the nasal secretions usually become thicker and perhaps yellow or green. This is a normal part of the common cold and not a reason for antibiotics.

Based on which virus is the culprit, the virus might also create:
•    Sore throat
•    Cough
•    Muscle aches
•    Headache
•    Postnasal drip
•    Decreased appetite

Still, if it is indeed a cold, the main symptoms will be in the nose.
For kids with asthma, colds are the most common trigger of asthma symptoms.
Colds are a common forerunner of ear infections. However, children's eardrums are usually choked during a cold, and it's potential to have fluid buildup without a true bacterial infection.

The total cold is usually over all by itself in about 7 days, with perhaps a few lingering symptoms (such as cough) for another week. If it lasts longer, see your doctor to rule out another problem such as a sinus contagion or allergies.

Treatment

Get enough of rest and drink lots of fluids. Over-the-counter cold cures may help relief your symptoms. These won't actually shorten the length of a cold, but can help you feel better.

NOTE: Medical experts have suggested against using cough and cold drugs in children under age 6. Talk to your doctor before your child takes any type of over-the-counter cough medicine, even if it is tagged for children. These medicines likely will not work for children, and they may have dangerous side outcomes.

Antibiotics should not be used to treat a common cold. They will not help and may make the situation worse. Thick yellow or green nasal discharge is not a reason for antibiotics, unless it doesn't get better within 10 to 14 days. (In this case, it may be sinusitis)

New antiviral drugs could make runny noses completely finish off a day sooner than usual (and get down to ease the symptoms within a day). It’s ambiguous whether the benefits of these drugs overbalance the risks.