Prehlad – Vzroki, simptomi, zdravljenje in preprečevanje

A cold is often the result of a viral infection in the nasal area or anywhere in the upper respiratory tract. The common Cold is the most common infection in all age groups.

A COLD: What is a cold? | Symptoms of a cold | A visit to the doctor | Causes of a cold | Diagnostics | CURE cold | Conventional treatment | Alternative Methods | Home Remedies | Prevention | Questions and Answers | Sources/references

A cold is caused by a viral nose and throat infection (upper respiratory tract) and is usually harmless. However, a cold can be caused by several virus strains simultaneously.

Healthy adults can expect two or three colds yearly, but babies and young children can have even more frequent colds.

Most people get over a cold in seven to ten days. Smokers, however, may experience symptoms that last longer. The common cold usually does not require medical attention, but you should still see a doctor if symptoms do not improve for a long time or even worsen.

The common Cold is the most common infection in all age groups. Cold symptoms are triggered when the virus attaches to the nasal passages or throat lining. Your immune system will respond by attacking the germs with the help of white blood cells called neutrophils. However, suppose your immune system can't recognize the virus. In that case, the response will be "nonspecific," meaning your body will make as many neutrophils as it can (usually even more than it needs) and send them through the bloodstream to sites of infection. Such an all-out attack will kill many viruses but will not affect some 200 types of viruses that cause the common Cold. The remaining neutrophils that accumulate in clusters at the sites of infection cause the stinging and inflammation of the common cold, supplemented by large amounts of mucus in the nose and throat.

Video content: how does the common Cold develop?

Cold symptoms appear one to four days after contracting the cold virus and typically last about three days. So the worst is behind you, although you may still feel congested for a week or so. During the first three days, when the symptoms are most pronounced, you are also contagious (which means you can pass the Cold on to others), so be careful then.

Although anyone can catch a cold, children catch it more often than adults. This is because colds are most common during the "cold period," which lasts from late fall to spring. During this time, people tend to stay indoors more and use some form of central heating. In addition, closer contact with other people, which increases the possibility of exposure to infectious viruses, and hot, dry air, which dries out the tissue in the nose and throat, create an ideal environment for viral infection.

Video content: why is it so difficult to cure the common Cold?

A cold is not dangerous, except for newborns. It usually goes away in a week or so without particular medication. Unfortunately, colds weaken your body's resistance, making you more susceptible to bacterial infections.

Symptoms of a cold

Cold symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure to the virus that causes the common Cold. Signs and symptoms, which may vary from person to person, may include:

• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat
• cough
• clogging
• slight body aches or mild headache
• Sneezing
• Pressure in ears and face
• Loss of taste and smell

Video content: symptoms, how you get it, how long it lasts...

• General malaise
• The fullness of the head and chest, sometimes with nasal discharge and difficulty breathing
• Sneezing.
• Dry cough that may occur only at night.
• Fever.
• Burning and wet eyes.
• Undefined tearing all over the body.
• Headache.
• Constant fatigue.

Consult your doctor if:

• Your newborn (under two months old) has cold symptoms. In babies, a common cold can be a severe illness.

• The filling is so strong that it makes breathing difficult, or there is a wheezing sound in your chest (wheezes) when you breathe. You may have asthma.

• Your throat hurts a lot, and you have a temperature of 39 °C or more; your cold symptoms worsen after the third day. In addition, you may have a bacterial infection (such as purulent angina), sinusitis, or bronchitis.

• You have a temperature above 40 °C. You may have pneumonia. Seek medical advice immediately.

• Your cold symptoms come on suddenly with a trigger — such as pollen, cat hair, or perfume — and last for weeks. You probably have an allergy.

Causes of a cold

More than 200 viruses can infect your nose and throat and cause a cold. Unfortunately, there is no absolute cure for any of them, so determining which caused your Cold won't help you get better faster.

Video content: what causes the common Cold?

You "catch" a cold by inhaling tiny droplets in the air when someone who already has cold coughs or sneezes. You can also get the infection if you touch a surface infected with the virus, e.g., a hook or phone, and then transfer calls to your nose or mouth.

Why do children and babies catch colds more often?

Children and babies are more susceptible to colds than adults because, until then, they have not been exposed to viruses and bacteria as much. Their immune system is just gaining the ability to detect new pathogens and fight them.

A baby can get up to ten colds a year before age two. In addition, we must not forget that children are in close contact with other children. For example, children usually do not cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze, nor do they wash their hands before touching their faces.

The cold virus can survive on surfaces for several hours; the baby picks up objects that others have touched and can quickly "catch" an unpleasant cold. A baby can become infected if it touches an object with microorganisms that cause cold and then touches the lips, eyes, or nose, where viruses and bacteria develop and reproduce.

DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES

Suppose your Cold is bad enough to get you to the doctor. In that case, your doctor will probably examine your throat and ears and probably take a swab of the lining of your throat (he'll rub the back of your throat with a cotton swab to see if or maybe you are not infected with bacteria and do not need antibiotics.

HEALING

Conventional and alternative treatments have the same goal: to make it as easy as possible for your body to fight the cold virus by providing the best possible relief from the symptoms of stinging and congestion. Adequate rest is the primary key to the success of cold treatment. You may need 12 hours or even more sleep overnight while fighting a cold. Drinking water is also essential. Mucus floats freely in a well-soaked body and will help you avoid or fight infection. It is more difficult for the virus to infect healthy, moist tissues than dry tissues. If you have a fever, your body will use heat to kill the cold virus. Giving fever medication can undermine your body's efforts to fight the cold virus. Of course, if the temperature is above 41 degrees Celsius, you should call your doctor.

Video content: how to cure the common Cold? Pharmacist Abraham explains.

Pregnant women or nursing mothers should consult their doctor before taking any flu medicine, including over-the-counter and herbal medicines.

Tips for treating colds in babies:

• Your child should be comfortable.
• Give the child fluids; babies six months or younger should drink mainly breast milk.
• The child should rest a lot so that his organism can regenerate as soon as possible.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE

There is no specific medicine against the cold virus, but it will make you feel better

if you treat your symptoms. For example, ibuprofen can ease the tearing, while paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid can only worsen the blockage. Never give aspirin to a child with a fever; give them paracetamol instead. If your throat hurts, gargle as many times as you want with salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a cup of water).

You may be tempted to give in to the hype and try one of the many over-the-counter "flu and cold" products, but think twice.

Video content: cold symptoms and help.

Such combination drugs are very likely to contain drugs against symptoms you do not even have, and therefore you will be taking too many drugs unnecessarily. Avoid these medicines altogether in children under 13 years of age. Even cold medicines, which are supposed to be aimed mainly at children, usually have no effect on this age group but can make them tired and worsen everything. Over-the-counter decongestants (such as pseudoephedrine) may help, but only temporarily. However, if you take these medications regularly for over five days, your body may have a "reverse" response and produce even more mucus, making the blockage worse. Pseudoephedrine increases blood pressure.

And heart rate. Do not take it without consulting your doctor if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, prostate problems, diabetes, or thyroid disorders.

Over-the-counter cough medicines, such as dextromethorphan, can help when the cough interferes with sleep or conversation. Otherwise, allowing yourself to cough as much as necessary (always cover your mouth) is better because coughing removes mucus and germs from the throat and lungs. Over-the-counter antihistamines can make breathing easier temporarily, but they "clean" your nose by drying it out, making mucus thicker and harder to drain.

ALTERNATIVE MODES

Time is of the essence: start treating your Cold as soon as you feel the first symptom. This is especially true for herbal medicines — an immediate response allows for faster and easier healing.

AROMATHERAPY

Herbal steam can help relieve blockages. However, if the steam is hotter than 70 degrees Celsius, it will also kill germs on contact. Choose eucalyptus (Euca-\yptus globulus), Gaultheria (Gaultheria precum-bens), or peppermint (Mentha piperita). Put a few fresh leaves or drops of herbal oil in a pot of boiling water. Put a towel over your head, lean over the pot, so you are in a steam tent, and inhale the steam.

HERBS

Echinacea (Echinacea spp.), if taken at the first symptoms, can reduce the intensity and duration of a cold and even prevent the infection from spreading. Echinacea probably stimulates the immune response and increases resistance against all infections. You can get it in capsule or tea form: put two teaspoons of Echinacea root in a cup of water, let it boil slowly for 15 minutes, then drink three cups daily. Hydrastis (Hydrastis canadensis) helps clear mucus from the throat. It also contains the natural antibiotic barberine, which helps prevent bacterial infections that often follow a cold. Steep half to 1 teaspoon of Hydrastis in a cup of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes, and drink three cups daily.

Video content: herbs for treating an unpleasant cold

For a good "cold tea," mix equal parts of elderberry (Sambucus nigra), peppermint (Mentha piperita), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of this mixture in a cup of hot water. This mixture can help the body against fever as well as against tearing, congestion, and inflammation.

Garlic (Allium sativum) probably shortens the duration of a cold and softens it. It seems to work in all forms: as capsules or tablets, as an oil that you rub into your skin, or as whole garlic that you roast or cook with other foods. If you decide to take capsules, take them three times a day until the cold stops.

HOMEOPATHY

Cold symptoms often respond well to homeopathic remedies. The dose is 12c taken every two hours, up to four times. Gelsemium can help you if you are shivering with chills, have tingling in your hands or feet, are tired, or have a sore throat. If you feel like your runny nose is constantly on fire, your eyes water, and if you sneeze frequently, you can try allium cepo. If you are irritated and have a runny nose that is badly blocked at night, take nux vomica. Try aconite for a barking cough, burning throat, and a bitter taste in your mouth for some time.

WAY OF LIFE

Avoid smoking, especially when you have a cold. Smoking attacks the mucous membranes and lungs and increases susceptibility to all respiratory infections, including the common Cold. But once you have a cold, the smoke irritates the inflamed tissue, making a healing more difficult.

NUTRITION

Good nutrition is essential for resilience and recovery.

Video content: suffering from a cold? Eat this food!

Eat a balanced diet. Take vitamin supplements to meet your daily needs for vitamin A, B complex vitamins (vitamins Bj, B" B., Bf, folic acid), and vitamins.

C and the minerals zinc and copper. If your diet is deficient in zinc, you will have a low neutrophil count and be an easy target for all kinds of infections, including colds. You can get zinc in the form of tablets or throat lozenges.

Avoid dairy products when you have a cold because they make the mucus even thicker.

In the past 20 years, much research has been done on whether taking massive doses (1 gram or more daily) of vitamin C to prevent colds is necessary. Unfortunately, there is still no final verdict on this. Results vary widely, but massive doses of vitamin C cannot prevent the common Cold. However, such doses may shorten the duration and ease the symptoms of a cold, perhaps because vitamin C is essential for healthy neutrophils.

Chicken soup has been used to treat colds since the 12th century. Recent research has supported the claim that chicken soup reduces cold symptoms, especially congestion. In addition, there is something (what remains to be discovered) in chicken broth that keeps neutrophils from clumping together and causing inflammation.

Any food that is spicy enough to bring tears to your eyes will have the same effect on your nose and speed up drainage. So you can help your body fight against Cold by eating hot and spicy food if you like it.

HOME REMEDIES

• Eat hard candies or cough lozenges to ease a sore throat. Avoid menthol as it can speed up drying.

• Apply Vaseline inside and around the nose to protect against skin irritation.

Video content: 6 home preparations for the fight against colds!

• The body should be well hydrated, so drink at least ten glasses daily. This will replace the fluid you lose through sweat and runny nose and relieve nasal and chest congestion. Keep a glass of water on your bedside table and drink water at night.

• To keep your nose and throat moist, humidify your room (especially during the colder months when central heating dries out the air).

PREVENTION

A robust immune system is the best defense against all infections, including colds. Support your body's natural resistance by eating well, not smoking, and drinking enough water daily. Minimize contact with people with a cold as much as possible, or don't share towels, utensils, or drinks with them. Cold viruses often spend hours in the open, on doorknobs, money, and other surfaces, so wash your hands often.

Video content: tips for preventing the common Cold

If you have a cold, try to keep it to yourself. A strong sneeze can carry cold viruses up to 4 meters away, so always cover your mouth when you sneeze (or cough).

Regular, moderate exercise (walking, about 45 minutes, five times a week) can strengthen the immune system and protect you more against colds and other infections. Saunas can also help. Swedish scientists have proven that at least two weekly saunas can protect you from colds. The cause is unclear; perhaps the heat in the sauna prevents the germs from multiplying.

Prevention - how can we avoid a cold?

Wash your hands

Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Teach your children about the value of hand hygiene. Do not use unwashed hands to touch your mouth, nose, or eyes.

Disinfect items

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and kitchen and bathroom counters daily. This is especially important if someone in your family has a cold. In addition, wash children's toys from time to time.

Cover your cough

Sneeze and cough into tissues. Throw away used wipes immediately, then wash your hands thoroughly. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into the crook of your elbow and then wash your hands.

Video content: prevention of colds and flu.

Avoid sharing things

Never use another family member's drinking or eating utensils. Instead, use disposable glasses or cups when you or someone else gets sick. The name of the person who uses the particular cup or glass should be written on it (a sensible solution).

Avoid people with Colds.

Avoid close contact with people who have a cold. Avoid crowds if possible. Also, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Take care of your health.

Quality nutrition, exercise, and enough sleep are critical to overall health.

How can we help each other from the comfort of home?

Even at home, in bed, and not at work, a cold is not a pleasant experience. However, natural remedies can reduce your symptoms and restore your health.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you still feel unwell after a few weeks. Get medical help immediately if you have trouble breathing, a fast heartbeat, dizziness, or other severe symptoms.

The following is a list of home remedies that can help you with a cold:

Chicken Soup

A warm bowl of homemade or reheated chicken soup with vegetables could improve a bad feeling. A low-sodium soup that's high in nutrition and helps keep you hydrated is a good choice, regardless of a nasty cold.

Ginger

Although ginger root has long been praised for its medicinal properties, we have ample evidence to support these claims.

Video content: recipe for ginger tea with honey!

A sore throat or cough can be soothed by boiling water with a few slices of raw ginger root.

Honey

Tea with lemon and honey is usually successful in soothing a sore throat. Honey is naturally enriched with vitamins and minerals that strengthen the immune system. However, never give honey to a child under the age of 1, as it often contains botulinum spores, which the baby's immune system cannot fight against.

Garlic

Adding a garlic supplement to your diet can reduce the severity of cold symptoms. Whole, unprocessed garlic contains a compound called alliin. When garlic is crushed or chewed, this compound turns into allicin, the main active ingredient in garlic.

Echinacea

Native Americans have been using the herb and roots of the Echinacea plant to treat ailments for over 400 years. Among its more important active ingredients are flavonoids.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C plays a vital role in your body and has many benefits for your health. Along with limes, oranges, grapefruits, leafy greens, and other fruits and vegetables, lemons are an excellent vitamin C. Adding fresh lemon juice to hot tea with honey can reduce mucus production when sick. Drinking warm or cold lemonade can also help.

Saltwater

Gagging salt water improves the release of mucus and thus improves the removal of bacteria and allergens.

Video content: Does gargling with salt water help with cold problems?

Dissolve one teaspoon of salt in a full glass of warm water, gargle for a few seconds, then spit out. Finish when the water glass is empty. Repeat up to 3x a day.

Moisturization

Increased mucosal moisture can reduce nasal swelling when you are sick. You might feel better temporarily adding a humidifier to your bedroom air. This is especially important in the winter when dry indoor heat can worsen your symptoms. A few drops of eucalyptus oil on a vaporizer can also help improve breathing.

Questions and Answers

What causes a cold?

The common Cold is caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the mucous membranes, as well as the nose and throat. Colds are quickly passed on to others, so all family members often fall ill. It is often spread by droplets (transmitted by sneezing, coughing, etc.) when a sick person coughs or sneezes into the air. Another person then inhales the droplets, and the development of the virus continues^[1].

How long does a cold last?

Adults and older children usually last about 7 to 10 days but may last longer. The cough, in particular, can last two or three weeks. Colds last longer in younger children and people under five, usually lasting about 10 to 14 days^[2].

Is a cold the flu?

Influenza (flu) and colds are contagious respiratory diseases, but different viruses cause them. Influenza viruses only cause the flu, but the common Cold can be caused by several viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses^[3].

How do you get rid of a cold?

Tips that work:

Stay hydrated. Water, juice, clear soup, or warm water with lemon and honey helps to reduce congestion and prevent dehydration. ...
Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
Soothe a sore throat ...
Unclog a stuffy nose...
Ease the pain...
Drink warm fluids...
Try honey...
Moisturize air^[4].

Sources and references

Source: Family Health Guide. Conventional and alternative treatment, Dr. Jaro Lajovic, Publishing House Mladinska knjiga

1. Sinus Infection (sinusitis) - https://www.cdc.gov

2. Common Cold - https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

3. Common Cold - https://www.nhsinform.scot

4. Cold Versus Flu - https://www.cdc.gov