Colds
Alternate Names : Upper Respiratory Infection, URI, Common COLD, Viral Pharyngitis, Viral URI
What can be done to prevent the infection?
Good hand washing is the best way to avoid spreading colds from person to
person. There are many measures that can help you avoid catching a cold. To
reduce the spread of colds, a person with a cold should:
cover his or her
mouth with a disposable tissue when sneezing or coughing, and then discard the
tissue
avoid
touching his or her eyes, nose, or mouth
wash his or her hands frequently, and especially after coughing or
sneezing
Healthy individuals should:
avoid close contact with a person who has a cold
try not to handle objects touched by a person with a cold
wash their
hands frequently
There is some
evidence that
vitamin C may help
prevent and decrease the severity of colds. Zinc may also help
prevent colds and reduce the severity of colds.
What are the long-term effects of the infection?
Most colds resolve within 7 to 10 days. Some people will develop
complications,
such as a sinus infection, ear infection, or long-term cough.
People who have breathing difficulties or lung conditions, such as asthma, are more
likely to develop
complications.
What are the risks to others?
Most colds are highly contagious. They are transmitted through respiratory
secretions. Sneezing and coughing can
spread these droplets. The germ can also be passed on when an individual
touches his or her nose and then handles an object that another person later
touches. The second person can then pick up the germ from the object and
transfer it into his or her own respiratory tract by bringing the hand to the
face.
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