Common Cold

Causative organism: rhinovirus

Common season of attack: spring & autumn

Signs and symptoms:

• 12-72 hrs duration for infection to symptoms (incubation period)
• duration: 7-11 days
• Nasal dryness with irritation mostly posterior side (first sign)
• sore throat
• Nasal discharge, congestion and sneezing
• Loss of sense of smell and taste
• Cough (30% of infected individuals)
• Hoarseness (20%)
• Headache
• Facial and ear pressure
• Fever (unusual; if present low grade)
• Post tussive vomiting
• Irritability or restlessness
• Physical examination findings
• Typically, less severe than the symptoms reported by the patients
• Nasal discharge can be clear and watery or mucopurulent (yellow or green)
• Fever uncommon, though temperatures of 38-39°C are possible in younger children
• A red nose with a profuse, dripping nasal discharge may be present
• The nasal mucous membranes have a glistening, glassy appearance, usually without obvious erythema or edema
• The pharynx typically appears normal, without any erythema, exudate, or ulceration
• Mildly enlarged, not so painfull cervical lymph nodes are present
• Auscultation of the chest may reveal rhonchi

Complications

• Otitis media
• Sinusitis
• Chronic bronchitis
• Exacerbations of reactive airway disease

Management:

• Rest
• Hydration
• Antihistamines(first generation)
• Nasal decongestants

supportive care:

• Washing hands
• Positioning the mattress at a 45° angle
• Disinfecting the environment using phenol-alcohol–based compounds
• Providing comfortable surrounding temperature and adequate humidity (soothes irritated nasopharyngeal mucosae and helps eliminate nasal secretions by preventing dryness)
• Using nasal saline drops with bulb-syringe nostril aspiration, in infants with congestion and obstruction
• Discontinuing smoking or using alcohol

v  Children younger than 6 years should receive treatment with analgesics, cough suppressants, decongestants, or antihistamines only when recommended and supervised by a physician.

v  The FDA recommends against the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children younger than 2 years