The Common Cold

The Common Cold Richard Saint Cyr MD DABFP [email_address] www.myhealthbeijing.com August 2, 2009

Case: A Runny Nose 流鼻涕 liubiti

Case: A Runny Nose
It is early March
A young kindergarten teacher has two days sore throat
Day 3: runny nose, cough, mild headache
No fever

Question: What Next?
Antiviral pills
Antibiotic pills
Ganmaoqingrenkeli 感冒清热颗粒
Tylenol Cold pills 泰诺感冒片

Dx: The Common Cold
“ Ganmao” 感冒
Infection of head/upper lungs
Cause: many viruses
not flu virus!
When: winter & spring
Adults: 2-4 a year
Kids: 6-8 a year

Why So Common?
Very infectious! (droplets, air)
Virus spreads to to others:
1 day before symptoms
7 days after symptoms
>200 viruses
Survive on surfaces for hours

Symptoms
Common:
First: Fatigue, sore throat, low fever
Then: runny nose; headache; cough
Serious:
Pneumonia; secondary infections (bacteria)
Usual Course:
2-7 days.
Cough can stay for weeks

Prevention
No vaccine
Good hygiene (wash hands!)
Avoid sick person
Get 8 hours of sleep
Don’t smoke
Be healthy (foods, exercise)
Humidifiers

Humidifiers Help
Beijing in winter very dry
Worse indoors
Healthy humidity 40%
Too dry:
Increased infections
Itchy skin
Cracked furniture
Yadu brand ~900RMB
Each room!

Get 8 Hours of Sleep!
Less sleep = lower immunity = more infection
Study, 2008:
Sleep <7 hours vs >8 hours a night
300% more colds

Prevention: Herbs?
FREE SOURCE: http://www.naturaldatabase.com/

How To Prevent Giving To Others
Stay home
Wash hands
Avoid close contact

Self Treatment: Cough
Cough syrups – none work well (0-20%)
Children <2: ineffective; dangerous
Banned in USA since 2007
Dextromethorphan is best 右美沙芬
“ Delsym” brand - import
Lemon & honey tea
Any cough drops
Ricola; Strepsils
Try sugar-free

Self Treatment: Congestion
Mucus color and thickness does not mean bacteria!
Nasal salt spray
Nasal spray Rx – 3-5 days max.
Oxymetazoline “Afrin” 羟甲唑啉
Pill pseudoephedrine “sudafed” 伪麻黄碱
Combo pills:
Bufferin Cold 日夜百服咛
Tylenol Cold 泰诺感冒片
Humidifiers

Self Treatment: Herbals
FREE SOURCE: http://www.naturaldatabase.com/

What Clinics Can Do
Physical exam
Lab test:
CBC (bacteria vs. virus); chest x-ray
Rx:
Symptom relief OTC Rx
No antiviral medicine works well
Hospital/ER:
Complications (pneumonia)

Why No Antibiotics?
Caused by virus, not bacteria
Antibiotics kill bacteria, not virus
X

What Do I Use When I’m Sick?
No antibiotic
Start ASAP:
Zinc tablets (“Zicam” brand) every 2-4 hours
Airborne, or Vitamin C tablets every 2-4 hours
Symptom relief, as needed:
Tylenol Cold or Bufferin Cold pills
Nasal spray
Humidifier in winter (always on)

Does “Airborne” Work?
USA product “created by a schoolteacher”
Dissolves in water

Antiviral pills
Antibiotic pills
Ganmaoqingrenkeli 感冒清热颗粒
Tylenol Cold pills 泰诺感冒片
What Next?

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The Common Cold

by Richard Saint Cyr MD on Aug 02, 2009

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The Common Cold — Presentation Transcript