Introduction Causes Complications Do's Prevention Homoeopathic treatment

Disease process Symptoms See a doctor if Don'ts Self-help

This is the most common infection that is caused due to a virus and is highly contagious. Common cold is one of the commonest afflictions of humans and account for the maximum cases of absenteeism from work and loss of man-power. Common Colds are predominantly viral in nature and there are more than 200 types of viruses that can cause it.

Although everyone catches colds, children suffer from them more frequently than adults. Cold infections are more common during the cold season. Cold weather and changing temperature can predispose to cold. Colds themselves are not dangerous (except in newborns) but they wear down the body's resistance, making the person more susceptible to a bacterial infection.

Common Cold symptoms are triggered when a virus attaches itself to the lining of the nasal passages or throat. The immune system responds by attacking the virus with white blood cells called Neutrophils. If the immune system cannot recognize the virus, the response is non-specific, meaning the body produces as many Neutrophils as possible and circulates them to the infected sites. This attack kills many viruses. Extra Neutrophils clumping together at infection sites causes the aches and inflammation of a cold, complete with vast amounts of mucus in the nose and throat.

Colds symptoms settle in between one and four days following the infection with the cold virus and typically last for about 3 days. At that point, the worst is over, but the feeling of congestion may last for a week or more. During the first three days when symptoms are present, the condition is contagious and so, appropriate preventive measures should be taken.

• Personal contact with infected people
• Infection due to inhalation of droplets from infected people through cough and sneeze
• Touching the hands of an infected person and then touching your eyes or nose with the same hands
• Touching a virus-infected surface, such as a doorknob or a telephone, and then transferring the germs to the nose or mouth

• Children attending school or day care
• Parents of the children attending school
• Large families
• Unhygienic family practices
• People with a low resistance due to fatigue, exhaustion, loss of sleep, stress, depression

• General lack of sense of well-being (irritability, restlessness) followed by a burning sensation in nose and eyes with discomfort, sneezing, nose block, clear nasal discharge, low grade fever, chilliness, headache and later hoarseness, scratchy or sore throat, dry cough that may occur only at night and a thick, greenish yellow, cloudy discharge from the nose.
• Reduced sense of taste and smell
• Loss of appetite
• Lack of energy, constant fatigue
• Muscle and bone pains

• Sinusitis
• Middle or inner ear infections
• Pharyngitis
• Laryngitis
• Tonsillitis
• Tracheitis
• Bronchitis

1. Symptoms of cold persist for more than a week.
2. A child or new born (2 months or younger) has cold symptoms.
3. Congestion makes it hard to breathe or the chest makes a whistling sound (wheeze) while breathing. It may indicate asthma.
4. The throat hurts and the temperature is 101 degree F or higher; or the cold symptoms worsen after the 3rd day. This may be due to a streptococcal throat infection, sinusitis or bronchitis.
5. There is a continuous high-grade fever (103 degree F or higher). It could be due to pneumonia which requires immediate medical attention.
6. The cold symptoms occur suddenly with exposure to certain triggers - such as pollen, cats or perfume- and/or the symptoms continue for weeks. This is probably due to an allergy.

1. Rest
2. Drink plenty of fluids (at least 10 glasses of water each day) as mucus flows freely in a well-hydrated body, thus helping avoid or recover from infection.
   Healthy, moist tissues are harder for a virus to infect than dry tissues. Also, this much intake of fluids will help replace the fluids lost through perspiration and runny nose and minimize nasal and chest congestion.
3. Steam inhalations help to decongest the nose-block due to cold. Take it at least 3 times a day.
4. Take warm water or salt water (1/2 tsp salt in 1 cup of water) gargles to soothen your throat.
5. Take raw fruit and vegetable diet including garlic and onions, which help to reduce catarrh.
6. Chicken soup is good for people suffering from cold.
7. Lemon juice and Vitamin C in large doses may do some good in colds.
8. Stop smoking and ingestion of alcohol.
9. Do get fresh air - take a gentle walk as soon as you feel able to walk.

1. Do not give aspirin to a child with fever, as it is likely to cause a neurological disorder known as Reye's syndrome. It has been linked to the use of aspirin in children aged 4 to 15 and usually occurs 1-3 days following a viral infection wherein the child becomes extremely tired, vomits heavily and may be agitated, delirious and/or confused. It can cause coma, brain damage and death.
2. Avoid food such as dairy products like milk, paneer (cottage cheese), cheese, eggs and sugar.
3. Avoid spicy food.
4. Do not cook while you are having cold.
5. Antibiotics should not be taken as they are of no use in a viral infection.

1. Avoid contact with infected people.
2. Avoid using or sharing personal belongings with them like towels, beverages, silverware.
3. Wash hands frequently as cold viruses often survive for hours in the open, on doorknobs, money and other surfaces.
4. Always cover the mouth while sneezing or coughing as a hearty sneeze can carry cold viruses upto 12 feet putting others at risk.
5. A regular intake of Vitamin A and C, and zinc supplements may help in preventing colds.
6. Avoid smoking and ingestion of alcohol.
7. Regular moderate exercise (such as walking for 45 minutes, five times a week), yoga and meditation help strengthen the immune system thus also helping to relieve stress and depression.
8. Saunas (at least 2 saunas each week) may help keep a person from succumbing to a cold, probably as the sauna's heat may prevent the cold germs from reproducing.

1. Warm water with fresh lemon juice and a little honey in it gives relief.
2. Eat hard candies or cough drops to soothe the sore throat, but stay away from the minty ones as they can cause drying.
3. Dab petroleum jelly in and around the nostrils to protect against chafing.
4. Humidify the room to keep the nose and throat tissues moist.
5. As opposed to myths, do not starve or eat excessively during a cold. Let appetite be the guide and eat accordingly.

Homoeopathy has safe and effective medicines for the treatment of viral colds and is very beneficial for short term as well as long-term management of the complaints. There is significant improvement in the acute attacks as well as in the frequency and severity of attacks with continued treatment. There is noticeable improvement in the overall immunity of the patient as well. Since the treatment is targeted towards the roots of the illness, the recovery is more lasting. Homeopathic medicines work at the immune level whereby enhancement of immunity prevents viral colds. The Homeopathic medicine is believed to address the genetic predisposition and enhance the resistance, thus making the patient less susceptible to the allergens, infections and the environmental changes.