There are over 200 viruses that can cause the "common cold" and symptoms can vary greatly.

Most adults get 2 to 4 colds a year; children as many as 10 colds per year.  Colds are relatively harmless infections of the upper respiratory tract that last about 7-10 days.

Colds are usually caused by the highly contagious rhinovirus.  The virus enters the body through the mouth or nose and is spread when an infected person sneezes, coughs or talks.  It can also spread by hand-to-hand contact or by using shared objects like towels, toys, utensils or telephones.  One of the fastest ways to catch a cold is by touching your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure.

10 Cold Prevention Tips

1. Wash your hands often and thoroughly.
   Colds are spread most often by hand-to-hand contact. Use warm, soapy water and wash thoroughly. Teach children to wash for as long as it takes them to count to 10, or sing their ABCs. Carry a bottle of alchohol-based hand rub containing at least 60 percent alcohol for when soap and water aren't available. Keep your hands away from your face as much as possible.
2. Clean your belongings.
   Keep countertops clean, especially when someone in your home is sick.  Wash toys after children play.
3. Always sneeze/cough into tissues.
   Discard used tissues right away and wash your hands.  Teach children to sneeze into the bend of their elbow when they don't have a tissue handy, that way they cover their mouths without using their hands.
4. Don't share.
   Use your own utensils and drinking glass or disposable cup when you or someone in your family is sick.
5. Eat nutritiously and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
6. Use a humidifier to keep the air moist in your home.
7. Choose a childcare center wisely.
   Look for a childcare center with sound hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick children at home.
8. Keep other cold sufferers at a distance.
   Avoid close, prolonged contact with anyone who has a cold.  Avoid crowds as much as possible.
9. If possible, stay home from work or school, if you get sick.
   Especially for a day or two during the early, most infectious period.
10. Consider preventive options.
    The use of vitamin C, zinc and Echinacea are not universally accepted as proven preventive methods, but according the Mayo Clinic, latest research indicates moderate doses can reduce the duration and severity.  Check packaging on products for more information about dosing suggestions.

Cold Symptoms/Possible Complications

Symptoms

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or mild headache
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Low fever (less than 102 F)
• Mild fatigue

Possible Complications

• Acute ear infection (children who are too young to verbalize their pain may cry or pull on infected ear)
• Wheezing
• Sinusitis
• Other secondary infections (like strep throat, pneumonia, chronic bronchitis in adults/croup in children—these infections need to be treated by a doctor)

Cold Treatment

Unfortunately, there's no cure for the common cold and antibiotics don't work against viruses that cause it. Colds just have to run their course.  But there are several ways to help ease the symptoms, including:

• Get plenty of rest.
  Consider staying home if you have a fever or bad cough, especially if you are drowsy from medications. Rest will help your recovery and reduce the risk of you infecting others.  Wear a mask if you work with someone who has a compromised immune system.
• Drink plenty of liquids.
  Water, juice, tea and warm soup—at least eight ounces of hot water or herbal tea every two hours. Try drinking honey in hot water, lemon juice or weak tea.
• Humidify the bedroom and take hot showers.
  Keep your room warm but not overheated.  The use of a humidifier can moisten the air and help ease congestion and coughing.  Keep the humidifier clean to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
• Eat chicken soup.
  The benefits of chicken soup are not just an old wives' tale. Research has shown that it clears up nasal passages better than plain hot water.
• Soothe your throat.
  Gargle with salt water several times a day and/or drink warm lemon water.  If you smoke, stop. Smoking aggravates a sore throat or cough.
• Take over-the-counter cough and cold medicine to help ease your symptoms.
  Do not give a child or teenager aspirin or salicylates—it may cause a rare but serious (and sometimes deadly) condition called Reye syndrome.  If you aren't sure a product contains salicylates, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• Use nasal drops.
  Use nose drops four times a day as needed. You can purchase saline nasal drops over-the-counter or make yourself:
  1. Boil 1 cup of water and cool to room temperature.
  2. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt and put the solution into a dropper or spray bottle.
  3. Apply 2-3 drops of squirt 4 times a day in your nose as needed.
  4. Blow nose gently after applying.
  5. To use in babies, instill several drops into one nostril, then immediately bulb suction that nostril, repeating process in other nostril.  Doing this before feeding your baby will improve baby's ability to nurse or take a bottle.

When to Call a Doctor

Seek medical attention if you or your child has:

• Fever higher than 102 F (103 F or higher for children)
• High fever with aches and fatigue
• Fever with sweating, chills and cough with colored phlegm (mucus)
• Symptoms that worsen after 3 to 5 days, or last beyond 10 to 14 days
• Fever that last more than 72 hours
• Vomiting or abdominal pain
• Unusual sleepiness (children)
• Persistent crying (children)
• Difficulty breathing, including shortness of breath, wheezing or chest pain
• Severe sore throat, or sore throat accompanied by drooling or inability to swallow
• Severe headache, or headache accompanied by stiff neck or confusion
• Constant ear pain that doesn't change with swallowing, or significant facial or tooth pain that doesn't respond to 3 days of congestion-relieving measures
• If you have a chronic health condition, suppressed immune system or are elderly

Common Cold or Flu?

A cold and the flu are similar in many ways.  Both do not respond to antibiotics. Both are respiratory illnesses but are caused by different viruses.  Colds are usually milder than the flu but because the symptoms can be similar, the only way to tell for sure is by special tests conducted by your doctor within the first few days of illness.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in general:

• Colds don't usually result in serious health problems like pneumonia, bacterial infections or hospitalizations.
• A stuffy nose, sore throat and sneezing are usually signs of a cold.
• The flu can lead to more serious problems, like pneumonia.
• Tiredness, fever, headache and major aches and pains probably mean the flu.
• Coughing can be a sign of either, but severe coughing usually points to the flu.

More Information & Resources

Have cold-related questions or concerns?

• United Way 2-1-1™ is a free and confidential, 24-hour information/referral line that can connect you to helpful programs and resources in our community. Just dial 2-1-1 or 651-291-0211.  You can visit the online version at The Twin Cities Beehive: www.beehivetwinicities.org
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration: 888-INFO-FDA or 888-463-6332
• U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
• View our tipsheet on preventing and treating the symptoms of the flu

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Sources: Health Partners, Center for Health Promotion, MayoClinic.com, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (www.fda.gov)