Abstract
The common cold is the most frequent human illness, and may be caused by several families of viruses, particularly the more than 100 serotypes of rhinoviruses. Inaccurate perceptions that antibiotics improve patient outcomes fuel the number of doctor visits and requests for antibiotics. The inappropriate use of antibiotics for minor, self-limiting, usually viral, upper-respiratory tract infections does not alter the course of the disease, and adds to the burden of antibiotic resistance. In addition, there is also no evidence to suggest that antibiotics prevent secondary bacterial complications following viral upper-respiratory tract infections. While most over-the-counter cold and flu remedies have no proven efficacy, they appear to attenuate the immune response to the infecting virus, and there is little doubt that appropriate symptomatic treatment can make the patient feel better. Therefore, symptomatic therapy remains the mainstay of common cold treatment. This article briefly reviews the components of cold and flu remedies, and provides a symptom-based assessment for the selection of appropriate over-the-counter medicine.
Highlights
The constellation of a sore throat, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, coughing, low-grade fever, headaches and the malaise of the common cold, has been recognised as a disease entity since antiquity.[1,2] The common cold is the most frequent human illness, and is caused by members of several families of viruses
A study conducted in US children revealed that 30% of these visits result in a prescription for antibiotics
Inaccurate perceptions that colds are caused by bacteria, or that antibiotics improve the outcome, fuel the number of visits and parental requests for antibiotics.[3]
Summary
The constellation of a sore throat, rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, coughing, low-grade fever, headaches and the malaise of the common cold, has been recognised as a disease entity since antiquity.[1,2] The common cold is the most frequent human illness, and is caused by members of several families of viruses. Inaccurate perceptions that colds are caused by bacteria, or that antibiotics improve the outcome, fuel the number of visits and parental requests for antibiotics.[3] educational interventions by all healthcare professionals need to incorporate the suggestion that there is no cure for the common cold, other than allowing for the passage of time during which the infecting virus is cleared by the immune system. It is the person’s immune response, rather than the infecting virus, that is responsible for most of the symptoms of the common cold.[1]. The common cold is to be distinguished from influenza, pharyngitis, acute bronchitis, acute bacterial sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and pertussis.[5]
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