Overview Of A Common Cold
When a person gets a cold, this is often caused by a virus. However, this is usually nothing to be concerned with and will disappear on its own within a week or so. There are many viruses that can cause a cold, therefore, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what causes a cold. The most common is the rhinovirus. This can be spread from one person to the next through a cough or by sneezing.
Symptoms of a Cold
When a person has a cold, they are going to have several symptoms. These symptoms can include:
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Feeling unwell
- Headaches
- Fever
- May lose your voice
Treating a Cold
There is no medicine that is going to make this cold go away. This is really something that your body has to get rid of on its own. With this being said, here are some helpful tips to help with fighting a cold:
- Get plenty of rest to help your body to fight this.
- Drink lots of fluids to ensure that you are staying hydrated. This will make it easier for the mucus to be cleared out of your body.
- You can take medications over the counter to help with fever and headache, if this is an issue.
- Utilize decongestants to help with a stuffy nose. However, these should only be used for a few days or they can make your condition worse.
- If your cough is dry and annoying, you can utilize cough medications. However, these are not going to help with getting rid of the mucus in most cases.
When to See your Doctor
There are times in which a person will want to see a doctor. These times include:
- When the temperature if above 38.5 C degrees
- Having the chills
- The neck is stiff
- Severe headache
- Becoming sensitive to light
- Pain in the chest
- Having troubles with breathing
- Skin that has a rash
- Vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Aching muscles
- For children, they should be seen if they are highly irritable, are crying frequently, loss of appetite or suffer with an earache
Diagnosis A Cold
Most individuals can diagnose themselves or their kids with a cold and speaking to your doctor isn’t required. However, if you’re concerned that your symptoms are serious, for instance, if you have difficulty absorbing food, difficulties breathing, pain with dark phlegm, or if your kid seems ill or isn’t eating, speak to your GP. If your child gets worse, then make an appointment as soon as possible.
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