The Common Cold - Essay Example

Common Cold Introduction Common cold is known as acute viral nasopharyngitis in the healthscience. The upper respiratory system is considered as the victim of this mild viral and infectious disease of the human body. Especially, nose and throat are most affected body parts during this viral disease. In this regard, sneezing, sniffling, coughing, etc. are some of the usual symptoms of the common cold disease. During this viral infection, patients complain of having running nose, as well as nasal congestion, and sore throat. Tiredness is also felt by the patients that are affected by the infectious disease of the common cold. Aching may also occur in the affected parts of the body during the disease. Typically, three to five days are taken by this disease in the normal human body. However, it has been observed by many studies that approximately three weeks are taken by residual coughing in the patient. In this regard, the most common of all the human diseases is the common cold. In light of a number of studies and researches, it has been analyzed that an average rate or two to four infections occur in the adults per year. Whereas, school-aged children are affected by this viral disease at a higher extent, that is, twelve times per year. In some populations, it is common to have more than three infections of the common cold in a person during a whole year. However, a higher risk is taken by children and their parents, as schools are found to be high in density in most of the countries. Secondly, as we mentioned above, it is a viral disease; therefore, family members are transmitted to this disease very easily and efficiently by the common cold bacterias. The upper respiratory tract infections is belonging the disease of common cold. However, influenza is found to be different from the common cold, as respiratory tract is infected more severely during influenza, as compared to the common cold disease. In addition, several other symptoms are also felt during the influenza, such as, muscle aches, fever, etc. in the human body. Common cold has also been associated with another disease, pneumonia, which can be life-threatening disease in the human body. This kind of danger has not been felt or observed in the common cold disease. However, when it becomes complicated, it results in the form of pneumonia, which can even take the life of a patient. In this regard, sometimes, people relate the common cold disease with pneumonia and influenza, due to non-availability of valid and updated scientific research in specific areas. Contrary to popular belief, it has been found by a number of scientists that very young and elderly people are more likely to be at risk due to new strains of this virus in the human body. However, the occurring of death is quite rare in this disease, and death is suffered in only one out of one million subjects related to the disease of common cold. The vulnerability of this cold disease has been found most common in the young children, who go to school and socialize with their classmates and other staff of the school. Secondly, patients are also found to having common cold who have been into any kind of surgery. In these cases, the death rate was around one case out of fifty thousand cases. However, it is very important to know that chimps were used to carry out these kinds of experiments. Nevertheless, scientists believe that the humans will react with these experiments similarly, as compared to the experimented chimps. Therefore, we may say that the occurrence of the disease of viral and infectious common cold can be related to the animals. Causes A number of viruses are considered as primary causes and factors of the common cold in the human body. Mainly, corona viruses, coxsackie viruses, rhinoviruses, etc. are some of the main viruses that cause the common cold, and the upper inspiratory system is infected and affected in the outcomes of the disease. Scientists have found and described hundreds of viruses that cause common cold in the body. It has also been observed that the evolution of virus can also be done, in order to ensure its survival in the human environment. In this regard, the central area that is affected mostly during the common cold is nasopharynx. The above given diagram has been sourced from the work of the United States Federal Government. In this diagram, the creator has tried to explain and describe different parts of the upper respiratory system that are mostly affected and victimized during the disease of common cold in the human body. One of the main reasons of the selection of the central area as nasopharynx is that low temperature is required by the virus bacterias, which is very low in the nasopharynx, as compared to its counterpart throat in the humans. In addition, the receptors are also required to get the high concentration of cells, in order to keep the virus effective. Therefore, nasopharynx is preferred by these viruses due to some of the causing factors, as mentioned above in the paragraph. Another primary cause of the common cold is its capability to transmit its bacterias from one person to another. This does not require any close physical contact with the person, as applies to some other types of diseases of human body. The transmission of these common cold viruses are done in two days, which involves two persons as receivers and senders of the disease. Usual physical contact is considered as one of the most primary causes of the common cold. For instance, nose is wiped by a sufferer of the common cold. Someone shakes hands with the common cold victim, and in the end, eyes and nose are rubbed by that someone, which results in the transmission of the common cold bacterias from one person to another. Inhaling droplets that come from sneezing or coughing is also considered as infecting the person with the common cold significantly. However, some of the experts do not give their positive response in this cause of the common cold. Handling of different objects can also be persisted by infective cold viruses. Some of these usual objects are shopping carts, doorknobs, etc. However, it has been observed that common cold, which occurs due to the viral infections from the abovementioned objects, does not last longer than one hour. Therefore, this kind of causes generally are not a point of concern for the doctors and physicians. However, these causes can also turn into extreme ones that may also cause death of the patient. Another way of getting and transmitting this viral disease to another person is that advantage of both the running nose and sneezes are taken by the common cold viruses. In this regard, the next person may be infected due to the flowing of nasal fluid copiously from the nose. Coughs also play a vital role in infecting a person with the common cold. A larger concentration of virus is expelled by sneezes, as compared to its counterparts, coughs that also expel virus concentration from the body. In this regard, experts have shown results that the invisibility of the virus is partial, and a slow rate is observed of its falling, which allows the common cold bacterias and virus to last longer in the human body. During this process, evaporation of a part of the droplet nuclei takes place, which allows the droplet nuclei to left in the air. It has also been observed that the free three days of the illness are found to be most infectious and difficult for the sufferer. During this initial stage, symptoms are often invisible, as nasal swabs exhibits the subjects that are related to the viruses. In the result, the concentration of the virus is controlled by the immune system of the body. The common cold infection is a type of mechanism in its own way. The cells observed the entrance of virus from the nasopharynx, and after its entrance, the multiplication of virus germs and bacterias occurs rapidly in the nose and throat of the body. In this regard, the nose is considered as the major and most common entry point of the virus. However, sometimes, it has been observed that virus enters through the eye opening of a human body. As mentioned before, kissing or swallowing do not encourage the transmission of the common cold in the body, and therefore, the mouth is not considered as one of the major entry points of viruses in the body. After passing of one to two days from the day of infection, the patients are likely to show symptoms. In one study, 75% of the patients showed common cold symptoms after they were exposed to a cold virus. Generally, a sore throat starts the cold virus, which does not require the blocking of the respiratory system. In response, the human body starts reacting and defending through its different mechanisms, such as, running nose, coughs, sneezes, etc. After these symptoms, the invader is expelled by coughs, while the attraction of inflammation takes place and immune cells are activated during the process. A slightly stiff neck can also be felt in severe colds. Similarly, severe headaches can also be felt in mild colds. It has also been observed that patients with flu virus often complain of feeling high fever in the body. After the common cold, immunity is developed to the particular virus by the sufferer. In this regard, only limited protection is offered by this immunity against the viruses of other cold diseases. Therefore, there are a number of chances that any other or different cold virus may infect the same person, who is having immunity for the common cold virus in the body. Symptoms and Complications Until now, we have tried to understand and discuss the different causes that are responsible for the occurrence of common cold in the human body. However, some complications have been observed during the common cold disease in the body. In this regard, advantage can be taken by the bacterias that are found to be residing in the respiratory tract. During the common cold, the weakened immune system can be worsen by the bacteria, and co-infection is produced in the body. The nasal fluids are driven into those areas due to the strong blowing of the nose, which might explain co-infections in a possible manner. In this regard, experts suggest different ways to avoid the complications that are related with the disease of common cold in the body. Both nasal openings should be kept open at the time of blowing the nose, is considered as one of the best steps to avoid complications in the common cold disease. The nose should not be fully covered, and wiping should be done in this regard. The partial dissipation of permitting pressure is also included in these steps. In the result, the pressure will be reduced by performing the step that is related to the upper respiratory system of the body. Prevention In this regard, close contact should be avoided with the persons that are already suffering the common cold virus. Physicians also suggest the people to perform the washing of hands thoroughly and this step should be repeated daily. The face should also be avoided in terms of touching. Cold virus is not affected by the use of anti-bacterial soaps. However, the hand washing is an action, by which, virus particles are removed from hands mechanically. In the year 2002, alcohol-based hand gels were recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has been proved that infectious viruses are reduced at a higher extent with these effective methods of washing hands on a regular basis. The immune system also gets weaken by the use of tobacco smoking in the humans. Therefore, the smoking population is more likely to get common cold virus than their non-smoking counterparts. Treatment Virus bacterias are tried to be inactivated with some pharmaceutical agents, such as, antibiotics. However, the common cold cannot be prevented by the use of antibiotics, as cases of viral infections have no value of antibiotics. Inhaling of steam has been considered as one of the best natural remedies of the common cold in the human body. It has been suggested by a number of experts that five to fifteen minutes should be given for the inhaling of warm air from the nostrils. In this case, rhinovirus can be treated very effectively, as survival of rhinovirus is not possible in high temperatures. Because of this weakness, the outer membranes of the sinuses and throat are infected by the rhinovirus. However, during this natural treatment, the patient should take extreme care of his/her sinuses and throat, in order to avoid burning of skin pores and nostrils in the human body. Echinacea and antivirals are also considered as treatments for the better recovery from the common cold. However, no scientific study has proved the effectiveness of these treatments, as well as their side effects on the body. The immune system of the body produces interferons that are natural proteins, and are suggested by the physicians for treating the common cold. In 1960s and 1970s, it was published that the prevention of common cold and its effects can be reduced by taking large doses of vitamin c in the body. Nobel Prize winner, Linus Pauling also supported the abovementioned theory regarding the use of vitamin c in the body. In the year 1970, the bestseller, Vitamin C and the Common Cold was written by Linus, which advocated many remedies for the prevention of common cold viral infection in the body. A minimum daily requirement of 75mg to 90mg of vitamin c has been recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture for the effective and fast treatment of common cold disease in the body. Whereas, females have been recommended a dose of 120mg of vitamin c for the same purpose. Eby, Davis and Halcomb suggested the use of zinc-containing lozenges for an effective treatment of cold infections in the human body. In this regard, a number of studies have take place that has suggested the usage of these agents for treating different types of cold and viral infections. However, some studies have not shown any relation of the zind-containing lozenges with the treatment of common cold virus. In the year 1997, a meta-analysis of six clinical studies took place that was unable to provide any evidence, which can prove the effectiveness of zinc-containing lozenges for the reduction of common cold symptoms and its causes in the body. Another scientific study that took place in the year 1999, it was concluded that it is very inconclusive to provide the evidence of zinc lozenges for the better and effective treatment of the common cold viral and infectious disease in the human body. Still, it has been widely used and accepted by a number of physicians and doctors around the world. Some of the other significant and effective treatments are analgesics that require the usage of paracetamol or aspirin, when a person goes through different abovementioned symptoms in his/her body. Localised versions of these analgesics are also been used by thousands of people for reducing the inflammation that constricts local blood vessels, and in the result, nasal passages are inflammated and infected by the common cold viruses. Symptoms of common cold can also be alleviated by the intake of hot liquids and fluids in the body, as well as, residing in a warm and humid environment. Chamomile, hot soup, and lemon root tisanes are some of the natural remedies that are being used for the treatment of common cold in thousands of homes around the world. Hot compresses, hot toddies, ginger root tisanes, licorice, tamagozake, echinacea, etc. are also considered as most effective among the localized and home remedies of the common cold disease. Already-tender throat may get irritated by eating of spicy food. However, congestion may be alleviated with the consumption of these kinds of food items. In addition, caffeine has also gain some importance as one of the best remedies to improve physical and mental condition of a person during the attack of common cold virus in the body. Gargling and flushing the nose with the help of salt water are also some of the other home remedies, which are related with the prevention and treatment of common cold virus. In other perspective, school attendance and studies concentration may be interfered with the common cold virus. In the result, economy tends to tolerate considerable costs in this regard. Nowadays, many countries and companies are trying their best to develop and market effective and attractive remedies of the common cold virus, which is an epidemic in form of pandemic, because of its occurrence over a very wide area of our planet. Conclusively, we have tried to understand and discuss common cold virus, its causes, symptoms, and treatments that have been suggested by experts and physicians around the world. We hope that our study will help the experts in their further studies. Works Cited Michael E. Ellis. Infectious Diseases of the Respiratory Tract. Cambridge University Press, 1998. Stephen H. Gillespie. Infectious Disease. Blackwell Publishing, 2000. Walter Ray Wilson. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Infectious Diseases. McGraw-Hill Professional, 2001. Read More