Nasal Pharyngitis: Description, causes, and indicators
The common cold, also known as nasopharyngitis, is a viral infection that affects the nasal passages and the pharynx. More than 200 viruses can cause nasopharyngitis, with the rhinovirus being the most common, accounting for 10-40% of colds.
Symptoms of nasopharyngitis start within 1-3 days and include sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, and coughing. At times, individuals may also experience mild fever, headache, weakness, and joint pain.
Effective treatments for the common cold focus on relieving symptoms, as the viral infection itself cannot be cured with antibiotics or specific antiviral drugs.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications
Common and effective OTC medications include:
- Pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to reduce fever, sore throat pain, and body aches.
- Decongestants to relieve nasal congestion (not recommended for children under 12).
- Antihistamines to reduce sneezing and runny nose (not for children under 6).
- Cough syrups and lozenges to soothe the throat.
- Zinc supplements or lozenges may reduce the duration and severity if taken early in the illness.
- Saline nasal spray to keep nasal passages moist.
Home remedies and supportive care
Rest and avoid overexertion to help the body recover. Gargling with salt water can soothe throat irritation. Using a humidifier or taking warm showers can ease nasal and chest congestion. Stay hydrated to prevent dry mouth and dehydration. Avoid cold, damp environments to not worsen symptoms.
Important considerations
- Combination cold medications may contain multiple drugs; ensure you do not double-dose.
- People with high blood pressure should consult a doctor before using OTC cold remedies, especially decongestants.
- Antibiotics are not effective against viral infections like the common cold.
Prevention
To protect themselves and others from a cold, individuals should wash their hands frequently, stay away from sick people, avoid touching the mouth, eyes, and nose with unwashed hands, and lower the risk of transmitting a cold to others by staying at home after getting sick, moving away from people before coughing or sneezing, avoiding close contact with others, sneezing or coughing into a tissue and then throwing it away, and washing the hands after sneezing or coughing.
Other considerations
People should consult a doctor if their symptoms are serious or unusual, last longer than 10 days, or if they are at high risk of the flu, such as adults aged 65 years and older, pregnant people, or individuals with certain medical conditions like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease.
The American Lung Association advises that people who smoke either quit or cut back during the illness, and they should avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
Adults experience an average of 2-3 colds per year, while children may catch between six and ten colds per year. The condition is highly contagious, spread through droplets from an infected person that can be caught through touch or inhalation.
Ingredients in cold medication may cause problems in some people, including worsening asthma and peptic ulcer, adverse effects on high blood pressure and thyroid disease, and a rare but severe condition called Reye's syndrome (most commonly affects those under the age of 18 years).
Certain natural products, such as vitamin C, zinc, garlic, echinacea, and elderberry, are claimed by some manufacturers to fight colds, but scientific evidence does not solidly support these claims. Elderberry may help reduce the duration and severity of the common cold, but more evidence is necessary to show this consistently.
In summary, symptom management with OTC medications, rest, and hydration is the standard effective treatment for the common cold.
- For workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, it's essential to educate employees about the common cold and the OTC medications, such as pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, decongestants, antihistamines, cough syrups, and lozenges, that can help relieve symptoms.
- Maintaining a physically and mentally healthy workplace can be achieved by encouraging fitness-and-exercise, mental-health therapies-and-treatments, proper nutrition, and skin-care practices to bolster the immune system and prevent the spread of illnesses like the common cold.
- Science acknowledges that certain natural products, such as vitamin C, zinc, garlic, echinacea, and elderberry, may have immune-boosting properties, but further research is needed to confirm their effectiveness in fighting colds.
- Nutrition plays a crucial role in boosting the body's immune system and helping individuals fight off the common cold by providing essential vitamins and minerals.
- In skin-care, it's essential to maintain a clean environment and practice good hygiene to prevent the spread of contagious illnesses like the common cold.
