🌿 Folk Prescriptions

The common cold is the most frequent reason people seek medical care. Though merely a simple respiratory infection, it may lead to serious complications affecting every organ in the body, earning it the title “source of all diseases” not without reason. Before discussing this topic, let’s clarify the definitions of “common cold” and “upper respiratory tract infection.”
Definition of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection and Common Cold:
General Definition: In anatomical terms, the “upper respiratory tract” refers to the airway above the larynx. Thus, the broad definition of “upper respiratory tract infection” includes all diseases causing infection in the area above the larynx, such as rhinitis, sinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and croup.
Narrow Definition: The narrow definition limits upper respiratory tract infection to acute nasopharyngitis—the common cold. Clinically, “upper respiratory tract infection” usually refers to acute nasopharyngitis (the common cold). This article focuses on this narrow definition.
Causative Agents:
1. Viruses: Over 90% of acute nasopharyngitis cases are caused by viruses, including over 150 distinct types. Rhinoviruses are the most common, followed by parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus.
2. Bacteria: Less than 10% of acute nasopharyngitis cases are bacterial in origin.
Transmission Routes: Virus concentration in nasal secretions is higher than in saliva or sputum, so sneezing spreads infection more easily than talking or coughing. When children scratch itchy noses or dig their nostrils, they may transfer viruses to peers via hand contact.
Epidemiology: On average, children get 5–8 colds annually, peaking before age 2. Younger children tend to have more severe colds and are more likely to develop complications.
Symptoms: Over 150 viruses can cause colds, explaining why we keep getting colds throughout life—and why symptoms vary greatly: sometimes mild, sometimes severe; sometimes with fever, sometimes not. This variation occurs because each cold may be triggered by a different virus. Once the virus enters the nasal cavity and pharynx, local inflammation causes dryness, itching in the nose, and sore throat. Within hours, sneezing, runny nose, and cough begin. Sometimes fever, chills, headache, muscle pain, general weakness, and poor appetite occur. Around days 1–3, sore throat peaks, and nasal discharge thickens and turns yellow. Infants often have higher fevers, while older children usually have no fever or only low-grade fever. In young children, colds may present gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Without complications, the typical course lasts one to two weeks.
Many viral infections initially resemble colds, starting with fever and sore throat, possibly with cough or runny nose, then progressing to specific symptoms such as enterovirus, roseola, measles, or chickenpox.
Complications: Secondary bacterial invasion may lead to the following conditions:
1. Otitis Media: Persistent fever and ear pain, especially if infants scratch their ears.
2. Sinusitis: Nasal discharge remains thick and yellowish.
3. Bronchiolitis and Bronchitis: Cough worsens, with increased sputum.
4. Pneumonia: Cough intensifies, sputum increases.
5. Triggering Asthma Attacks: Individuals with asthma are prone to attacks during colds.
6. Meningitis: If pathogens spread from the respiratory tract to the brain, meningitis may occur, presenting with drowsiness, reduced activity, confusion, or stiff neck.
Treatment: There is no specific cure for ordinary colds. Visiting a doctor serves three purposes: accurate diagnosis, symptom relief, and early detection of complications for timely treatment. General advice includes rest and increased fluid intake. Doctors may prescribe medications to relieve symptoms such as antipyretics, analgesics, cough suppressants, expectorants, and antihistamines. Children should avoid aspirin-based fever reducers to prevent Reye’s syndrome. Antibiotics are ineffective against common colds. Due to smaller nasal passages, children often suffer severe nasal congestion, and since they rarely breathe through the mouth, sleep is disturbed. Nasal congestion also affects eating. To alleviate this, use a nasal aspirator before meals and bedtime, or apply nasal decongestant sprays to relieve congestion quickly. However, nasal decongestants should not be used continuously for more than 4–5 days to avoid irritating the nasal mucosa.
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