| Many people suffer from the common cold | | | | are good to since they do a pretty good job at |
| several times a year. Some of these cold | | | | alleviating the cold symptoms, though not |
| episodes would worsen and lead to a sinus | | | | completely eradicating them. |
| infection. | | | | Home remedies which are effective include longer |
| The common cold is brought about by the | | | | rest, steam inhalation and drinking plenty of water. |
| rhinovirus. It is a mild illness that does not last long. | | | | Unless there is a fever which may indicate a |
| Many different kinds of viruses are known to | | | | bacterial infection, most people would visit a |
| cause the common cold. As a result, we are | | | | pharmacy for some over-the-counter medications. |
| constantly bombarded by old and new viruses | | | | Lozenges are good for sore throat. Those with |
| which cause the common cold and there is no | | | | coughs can go for cough mixture which can help |
| way for our body to build resistance to all of | | | | thin the mucus for easy drainage. Decongestants |
| them. | | | | such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) and |
| As a result, young, school-going children often | | | | antihistamines help with unclogging the blocked |
| suffer from frequent bouts of the cold. On | | | | nasal passages. Paracetamol can be taken if there |
| average, children in preschool and elementary | | | | is a fever or headache. Unless the pain becomes |
| school can have between four to twelve colds | | | | unbearable, Ibuprofen is a good alternative. |
| per year while teenagers and adults typically have | | | | Sinusitis |
| an average two to four colds per year. | | | | A sinus infection, medically known as sinusitis, is a |
| Understandably, the common cold is the leading | | | | condition where the air-filled cavities, or sinuses, |
| and most frequently occurring illness around the | | | | become inflamed and swollen. Very often, a |
| world, and it is the chief cause of productivity | | | | person who has the common cold goes a step |
| losses owing to missed days from work and | | | | further to having sinusitis. This is due to the |
| school. | | | | person's slow recovery. |
| Common cold symptoms | | | | In addition to the above cold symptoms, other |
| The most common symptoms of the cold would | | | | sinus infection symptoms would include: |
| include clogged nasal passages which affect mucus | | | | 1. Pain in the molars of the upper jaw |
| drainage, sore throat, hoarseness, sneezing, | | | | 2. Pressure around and between the eyes. |
| cough, abnormal amounts of post-nasal drip and | | | | 3. Frontal headaches |
| sometimes a fever or headache. Many people | | | | The above symptoms also are not usually |
| with a cold would feel a loss of concentration and | | | | associated with colds and therefore these |
| fatigue. These cold symptoms would normally be | | | | additional symptoms can help you distinguish |
| present for a period of three to 9 days from the | | | | between the common cold and sinusitis. |
| onset. | | | | Generally, if your cold symptoms last less than |
| Common cold treatment | | | | seven days, the likely cause is rhinovirus |
| Being a viral infection, there is no quick fix for the | | | | infection, and antibiotics are not needed. |
| common cold. Antibiotics would not work since | | | | If cold symptoms last longer than seven days or |
| they only act against bacteria. It is inconceivable | | | | get worse, the patient most likely has a bacterial |
| for a doctor to prescribe antibiotics for the | | | | infection and will likely require a course |
| common cold. In fact, many doctors have been | | | | of antibiotics. |
| cautioned not to prescribe antibiotics | | | | Acute sinusitis normally clears up in four weeks |
| indiscriminately due to the rising number of | | | | while chronic sinus infection can last up |
| antibiotic-resistant cases reported. Home remedies | | | | to twelve weeks. |