Common cold, Cure and Side effects
What is common cold?
Sneezing, sore throat, a stuffy nose, coughing - everyone knows the symptoms of the common cold. It is
probably the most common illness.You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch
surfaces with cold germs on them. You can also inhale the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days
after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Washing your hands and staying away from people with colds will
help you avoid colds.
Common cold Virus
Different Medicines and their side effects
 Clarinase( Insomnia, dry mouth, headache and somnolence)
 Contra indication: Patients receiving MAOI therapy or within 14 days
of such treatment. Narrow angle glaucoma, urinary retention, severe
hypertension, severe coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism)
 Special Precautions:
1. Glaucoma
2. Stenosing peptic ulcer
3. Pyloroduodenal obstruction
4. Protastic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction
5. CV disease
6. Increased intraocular pressure
7. Diabetes mellitus
8. Patients on digitalis
9. Severe liver impairment
10.
Above 60 years old
11.
Pregnancy or lactation
SYMPTOMS
1. Do you have a
fever?
2. Do you have a
sore throat and
headache--without
nasal drainage?
DIAGNOSIS
SELF-CARE
Go to Question 6.*
You may haveSTREP
THROAT, a bacterial
infection.
See your doctor if the sore
throat or fever lasts longer
than 48 hours. He or she can
do a test to find out if you have
strep throat. If you do, your
doctor may give you an
antibiotic to treat it. You should
also get plenty of rest, and
drink lots of water. Gargling
with warm salt water may help
relieve a sore throat.
3. Did your
symptoms start
suddenly, and do
you have a
combination of
symptoms
including muscle
aches, chills, a
sore throat, runny
nose or cough?
4. Do you have a
persistent cough
that brings up
yellowish or
greenish mucus,
wheezing and
shortness of
breath.
5. Do you have a
headache or
muscle aches,
nausea or
vomiting, and
watery diarrhea?
You may have theFLU.
Get plenty of rest, and drink
lots of fluids. Over-the-counter
medicines may relieve some of
your symptoms. Your doctor
may suggest a prescription
medicine that may shorten the
course of the flu. Prevent the
flu by getting a flu shot each
fall.
You may be
developing ACUTE
BRONCHITIS, an
infection of the airways.
Get plenty of rest, and drink
lots of fluids. If you smoke, cut
down on the number of
cigarettes you smoke, or stop
smoking. Use an over-thecounter medicine for pain and
fever, and an expectorant to
ease the coughing. A
humidifier may also relieve
some symptoms. If symptoms
persist or worsen, contact your
doctor.
You may have
GASTROENTERITIS
(also called the stomach
flu).
Get plenty of rest. Children
who have gastroenteritis
should be given an oral
rehydration solution to avoid
dehydration. Ease back into
eating with bland foods and
clear liquids.
*6. Do you have a
runny and/or itchy
nose, sneezing,
and itchy eyes?
7. Do you have
sneezing, a sore
throat, headache,
congestion and a
runny nose?
8. Do you have
swelling or pain
around your eyes,
cheeks, nose or
forehead, a
headache, a dry
cough, and/or
discharge from the
nose?
You may
haveALLERGIES.
Try an over-the-counter
antihistamine medicine. If
symptoms persist or worsen,
contact your doctor.
You probably have
aCOLD.
Try an over-the-counter cold
medicine to treat the specific
symptoms you are having. Get
plenty of rest, and drink lots of
fluid.
You may be
developingSINUSITIS.
See your doctor.
Acetaminophen, ibuprofen
and/or warm compresses may
help reduce facial pain. A cool
mist vaporizer may help your
sinuses drain more easily.
Drink plenty of fluids.
For more
information, please
talk to your doctor.
If you think your
problem is serious,
call right away.
WARNING: Due to the risk of
Reye's syndrome, don't give
aspirin to children without your
doctor's approval.
References
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/517.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/commoncold.html
MIMS 104th edition 2006