The tell-tale signs of a common cold come on slowly and then seemingly all at once. First, a stuffy, runny nose; then, a sore, swollen throat; and then sneezing and coughing.Dr. Steven Doer stated in an article called ìCommon Cold,î posted on MedicineNet.com, that the common cold is ìan upper respiratory tract infection caused by many different viruses.îìThe common cold can really make people miserable,î said Dr. Christine Nevin-Woods, medical director of the El Paso County Public Health Department.Nevin-Woods said it is not always necessary to seek medical help for the cold, but certain people are susceptible to harsher symptoms. In some cases, the cold turns into more severe illnesses.ìMost adults realize the common cold will run its course, and they donít need to see a medical provider,î Nevin-Woods said. ìBut, the viruses causing the common cold can cause significant problems for some people, such as those with asthma, emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, babies and the elderly. Half of asthmatic exacerbations are caused by viruses and the common cold.îTreatments for a cold vary for these populations.Babies who have a cold can experience difficulty with breathing, Nevin-Woods said. ìSo itís important that parents have a rubber-suction tool so the baby can breathe,î she said. ìNot being able to breathe properly can be the most miserable part.îDanielle Oller, a spokeswoman for the El Paso County Department of Public Health, said it is difficult to track the common cold since medical providers are not required to report cases to the county.ìSince itís not a reportable disease, thereís not really a tracking mechanism at the local level, nor, I believe, at the state level,î Oller said.Cold and flu season generally hits in the fall and winter months, Nevin-Woods said; and, since the cold is so common ó hence its name ó its reach is difficult to quantify, she added.And antibiotics wonít treat it.ìThere is no antivirus or antibiotic to cure the common cold,î Nevin-Woods said. ìItís caused by a virus, not a bacterial infection.îAccording to a WebMD article titled ìBacterial and Viral Infections,î bacteria are single-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own, while viruses need a living host to survive and reproduce by attaching themselves to cells.ìThereís probably not a way to shorten the duration of a cold, but if you can, stay home and rest. Throat lozenges and Tylenol, and sometimes a hot shower, can help with the symptoms,î Nevin-Woods said.Using preventive measures to avoid a cold is best.ìGood hand-washing is No. 1 Or, use hand sanitizer,î Nevin-Woods said. ìDonít share utensils like cups or cutlery. … If youíre sick and coughing or sneezing, do it into a tissue or into your sleeve, so youíre not spitting the virus into the air. Thatís also just polite.îIt is important to differentiate between a common cold and a more severe illness.ìFlu season is typically in the fall and winter, and sometimes what looks like a common cold can be something more serious, like the flu,î Nevin-Woods said. ìPertussis, for example, can mimic a cold at first. If a child is having trouble breathing; or is wheezing, has a fever and is not getting better; or is not eating or drinking; that would be the time to see a doctor.î
