The common cold is caused by viruses that infect the nasal mucosa, causing inflammation and symptoms like nasal congestion and rhinorrhea. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and includes decongestants, antihistamines, expectorants, analgesics, and increasing fluid intake. While colds cannot be cured, zinc and vitamin C may help reduce severity and duration.

1. COMMON COLD

2. COMMON COLD
• A contagious illness caused by a number of different types of viruses. Because of
the great number of viruses that can cause a cold, the body never builds up
resistance against all of them for this reason colds are frequent and recurring
problem.
• A strong term that describes a viral respiratory infection which results from
inflammation of mucous membrane of nasal cavity is called as RHINITIS.
• Rhinitis is defined as inflammation of the membrane lining nose and is
characterized by nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea, sneezing and itching of nose
and/ or post nose drainage.

3. ETIOLOGY
• Common cold is caused by corona viruses, respiratory syncytial
virus (RSV) and rhinoviruses (most frequent causative pathogen).
• Other pathogens involved include influenza, parainfluenza, and
adenoviruses.
• Direct contact between the virus and the nasal mucosa is the most
prevalent mechanism of transmission of the rhinovirus.

4. RHINITIS TYPES
• common cold
• Allergic
• Non-Allergic
• Medicaments

5. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
• The rhinovirus is deposit into the nose or the eye either by direct contact or by aerosol
transmission.
• Mucocilliary action transports the virus to the adenoid where the virus is able to attach to the
intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) receptors on lymphoepithelial cells.
• The virus begins to replicate there, triggering the release of inflammatory mediators, including
histamines, kinins, certain prostaglandins, thromboxane, and several interleukins (IL-1, IL-6, IL-
8).
• The inflammatory mediators lead to nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, sore throat, headache, and
stimulation of cough and sneezing reflexes.

6. SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
• Scratchy throat 1-2 days after contact with virus.
• A sore throat is followed by a thin, watery discharge (known as rhinorrhea), and sneezing.
• Within 1-2 days, the thin, watery discharge may become thick and purulent.
• A dry, nonproductive cough may develop between days 3 and 5, often evolving into a
productive cough.
• Cold symptoms decline and the risk of transmission of the virus is minimized after 3 days of
infection and the median duration of the common cold is 7-13 days.

7. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS SUGGEST AN
ALLERGIC AETIOLOGY.
• Include purities of eyes, nose, palates, and ears.
• Watery rhinorrhea
• Sneezing
• Family History of Allergies e.g. dust, animals, Pollens & molds
• Coexistence of Asthma or Eczema

8. SIGN AND SYMPTOMS SUGGEST AN NON-
ALLERGIC AETIOLOGY
• History of previous -ive allergy testing
• Overuse of topical decongestants
• Facial pain.

9. TREATMENT
• 1) Non-pharmacologic treatment;
• Adequate rest,
• Adequate fluid intake,
• Increased humidification and nasal irrigation.
• 2) Pharmacologic treatment;
• Decongestants; also called sympathomimetics are the primary treatment for nasal congestion
used orally or topically. They produce vasoconstriction by stimulating alpha- adrenergic receptors,
thereby reducing the volume of blood circulated to the nasal mucosa and decreasing mucosal
edema. Topical are Oxymetazoline, Phenylephrine, and Levmetamfetamine. Oral decongestants
are Pseudoephedrine, and Phenylephrine.

10. TREATMENT
• Antihistamines; First generation are widely used in cough preparations for relief of rhinorrhea
and sneezing, but have no effect on nasal congestion. Chlorpheniramine, Brompheniramine,
Diphenhydramine and Dexbrompheniramine. Second generation is not recommended
• Expectorants; Also called mucolytic agents, work to release sputum and thin bronchial
secretions by irritating the gastric mucosa and stimulating secretions of the respiratory tract.
This increases the volume of the respiratory fluid and thins mucus. Therefore, expectorants are
used only to treat a productive cough. Guaifenesin is mostly used.

11. TREATMENT
• Anti-tussives; are recommended for a non-productive cough. Dextromethorphan
and Codeine are used as cough suppressants. Camphor and Menthol are the
only FDA-approved topical antitussives.
• Intranasal normal saline; may be used in the form of drops and sprays to
moisten nasal membranes and assist in the removal of thick secretions.
• Analgesics; indicated in the treatment of common cold symptoms when sore
throat, myalgia, and headache exist. Aspirin, Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and
naproxen sodium may be recommended.

12. TREATMENT
• Combination products; may be useful for simplicity of dosing and
adherence if patients are experiencing a variety of symptoms that can be
alleviated by one product (e.g., antihistamines, decongestants,
analgesics, expectorants and antitussives).
• i) Complementary therapy; Vitamin C (dose > lg per day) to reduce the
frequency or severity of the common cold. Zinc is also used; it also
reduces the severity of common cold.