Common cold

Introduction: Common cold

Almost everyone is familiar with the feeling you get when you start a common cold, such as a sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or tearing. Colds are very common but are more common in children and decline with age. They are rarely dangerous to healthy adults or children, but may occasionally be dangerous to infants, the elderly or other at-risk groups.

Correct diagnosis of a cold usually means distinguishing between cold and the more serious flu, which is not always easy, but is important because of newer antiviral medications for the flu. There are also other conditions that start like a cold (e.g. rare but serious whooping cough) and numerous conditions that have cold-like symptoms or flu-like symptoms. Although there are numerous different subtypes of colds, diagnosis of the specific subtype of cold is rarely performed and not usually important for treatment.

Symptoms of Common cold

• Runny nose
• Sneezing
• Tearing
• Blocked nose
• Sore throat

See full list of 12 symptoms of Common cold

Home Diagnostic Testing

Home medical testing related to Common cold:

• Cold & Flu: Home Testing:
  • Home Fever Tests
  • Home Ear Infection Tests
  • Home Flu Tests

Medical Textbooks Online about Common cold

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Common cold?

• Misdiagnosis of Common cold
• Underlying causes of Common cold (possibly wrongly diagnosed)

Misdiagnosis and Common cold

Sinusitis is overdiagnosed: There is a tendency to give a diagnosis of sinusitis, when the condition is really a harmless complication of another infection, such as a common cold....read more »

Whooping cough often undiagnosed: Although most children in the Western world have been immunized against whooping cough (also called "pertussis"), this protection wears off after about 15 years. Thus, any teen...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Common cold

Causes of Common cold

• Human metapneumovirus
• Coronavirus 229E, Human
• Rhinovirus
• Respiratory syncytial virus
• Adenovirus

See full list of 7 causes of Common cold

Read more about causes of Common cold.

More information about causes of Common cold:

• Common cold as a symptom
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Common cold

Treatments for Common cold

• Rest
• Fluids
• Cold-and-flu medications
• Aspirin - but not for babies, children or teenagers because of the risk of Reye's syndrome.
• Acetaminophen

See full list of 9 treatments for Common cold

Videos for Common cold

Patient Surveys for Common cold

• Patient Profile Survey
  Take Survey  View Results
• Survey about the symptoms of your Common cold
  Take Survey  View Results

Prognosis for Common cold

Prognosis for Common cold: Good. Colds are rarely dangerous to healthy children or adults; some risk to infants, elderly or at-risk groups.

More about prognosis of Common cold

Reseach about Common cold

Visit our research pages for current research about Common cold treatments.

Clinical Trials for Common cold

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Common cold include:

• Echinacea Versus Placebo Effect in Common Cold - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Echinacea
• Evaluation of Echinacea for the Common Cold - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Echinacea
• Echinacea, Propolis and Vit c for Uri Prevention in Preschoolers - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - dietary supplement--echinacea, propolis, and vitamin c
• Kinetics of Etheric Oils, Smart Textiles Vs. Ointment - This study is not yet open for patient recruitment (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - smart textiles containing menthol, camphor, cineol
• Efficacy of Homeopathic Nasal Formulation for Management of Experimental Rhinoviral Colds - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)

See full list of 10 Clinical Trials for Common cold

Prevention of Common cold

Prevention information for Common cold has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Common cold.

• Avoid exposure to people with colds
• Handwashing
• Avoid touching eyes or nose with your hands
• Cleaning with disinfectant - on surfaces that may be contagious.

Read more about prevention of Common cold

Statistics for Common cold

• Medical statistics for Common cold
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Common cold
• Death and Mortality statistics for Common cold
• Society statistics for Common cold

Types of Common cold

• Rhinovirus-related colds - 30-35% of colds
• Coronavirus-related colds
• Adenovirus-related colds
• Coxsackievirus-related colds
• Echovirus-related colds

See full list of 9 Types of Common cold

Stories from Users Related to Common cold

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Common cold, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Common cold

Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose – everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and of school and job absenteeism. (Source: excerpt from The Common Cold, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)

Definitions of Common cold:

Catarrhal disorder of the upper respiratory tract, which may be viral or a mixed infection; marked by acute coryza, slight rise in temperature, chilly sensations, and general indisposition. - (Source - Diseases Database)

A mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs); "will they never find a cure for the common cold?" - (Source - WordNet 2.1)