The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that affects children. Children typically present with cough, runny nose, sneezing, and nasal congestion. Rhinoviruses cause over 50% of colds in children. Treatment focuses on symptom relief through medications. Prevention emphasizes handwashing, limiting self-inoculation, and annual influenza vaccination.

1. By Abenezel
NIYOMURENGEZI
UNIVERSITY OF RWANDA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
COMMON COLD IN CHILDEN

2. Objectives
 After completing this article, you will be able to:
 Identify clinical presentations of….
 Explain how to diagnose…..
 Demonstrate differentials of….
 List the complications of….
 List the causes of……
 Outline the epidemiology of….
 Explain the pathogenesis of…..
 Explain the transmission of….
 Treat a patient presenting with…
 Educate how to prevent……

3. Introduction
 Common cold is an acute , viral infection of the upper respiratory infection involving
the nose, sinuses, pharynx and larynx.
 Almost every ill patient presents with the runny nose, cough, and congestion that are
the hallmarks of the common cold.
 Most patients (and their parents) are tired and uncomfortable as a result of these
symptoms.

4. Clinical Presentation
 Children typically present with cough, sneezing, nasal congestion, and runny
nose.
 Nasal discharge may be clear initially but often turns yellow-green within a
few days.
 Mild fever may be present initially in preschool-age(3-6yo) patients, but
vomiting and diarrhea are uncommon.
 Parents also may report sleep disturbance and increased fatigue.
 Symptoms persist for at least 10 days in most children.
 Sore throat or hoarseness also may be present in children.

5. Do u remember the time you had cold???

6. Diagnosis
 Common cold is a clinical diagnosis.
 Subjective complaints may include nasal stuffiness, sore throat, and
headache.
 Objective findings may include fever, anterior cervical lymphadenopathy,
erythema of the nasal mucosa and oropharynx, and nasal discharge.
 Laboratory tests are not helpful;
 In some countries, rapid tests are available for detection of respiratory
syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

7. Differential diagnosis
 Other conditions to consider in the diagnosis include
1. nasal foreign body,
2. allergic rhinitis,
3. vasomotor rhinitis (rhinitis due to muscle and nerves dilatation),
4. bacterial sinusitis,
5. rhinitis medicamentosa(inflammation of the mucous membrane in the nose
due to medicaments like…..,)
6. and structural abnormalities of the nose or sinuses.
 History and physical examination should be sufficient to differentiate these
conditions from the common cold.

8. Complications
 Complications arises due to secondary bacterial infections and wheezing
 Major complications are: otitis media, sinusitis, and pneumonia.
 About 30% of colds in preschool-age children may be complicated into otitis
media, and this risk is highest in children 6 to 11 months of age.
 Sinusitis may occur in 5% to 10% of children who have colds and may be
considered when symptoms are not improving after 10 days.
 Other potential complications include peritonsillar cellulitis and abscess,
conjunctivitis, mastoiditis, and meningitis.

9. Causes
 Rhinoviruses cause at least 50% of the colds in children, thus, are the most
common sources of cold infections
(https://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/32/2/47).
 Other causes of the common cold include
 adenoviruses,
 influenza viruses,
 enteroviruses,
 Coronaviruses.

10. Epidemiology
 Cold season begins in beginning of the rain fall periods
 This results not from a single cold virus but from a number of viruses moving
through the community during the rain fall.
 Colds are most common in children younger than the age of 6 years, who
routinely experience six to eight colds annually.
 Lack of previous exposure leads to increased successibility

11. Pathogenesis
 Viral infection of the nasopharyngeal mucosa initiate a host inflammatory
response that produces the symptoms.
 Cold virus is deposited on the mucosa of the nose.
 Virus then attaches to receptors on cells in the nasopharynx and enters the
cells.
 The infected cells release potent cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-8
(inflammation modulators)
 Inflammation arises. (signs of inflammation)
 Vascular permeability increases and plasma proteins, including albumin and
bradykinin, leak into the nasal secretions, increasing the volume of secretions
produced.

12. Transmission
 Cold viruses transferred from person to person and cause the appearance of
symptoms 1 to 2 days after inoculation.
 There are three mechanisms for transmission of the common cold:
1. small particle aerosols produced from coughing that are inhaled by another
person,
2. Droplets produced from saliva expelled during a sneeze that land nasal
mucosa of another person,
3. or self-inoculation of one's own nasal mucosa after touching a person or
object contaminated with cold virus.

13. Treatment
 Symptomatic relief is the primary goal of treatment,
 Antihistamines: E.g.: hydroxyzine, and chlorpheniramine,
 Antiviral (oseltamivir, amantadine, rimantadine, and zanamivir),
 Expectorants and antitussives (Guaifenesin and dextromethorphan
respectively),
 Decongestants (pseudoephedrine),
 and antipyretics/analgesics (acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen)
 Combinations mostly exist as OTC medications.
 Antibiotics are indicated only when secondary bacterial complications are
diagnosed.

14. Treatment
 The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel has
recommended against the use of these medications in children younger than
six .
 these medications are not proven to be effective and have the potential to
cause dangerous side effects. For children older than 6 years, cold
medications may have fewer risks; however, there is still no proven benefit.

15. Prevention
 The best treatment of a cold is prevention.
 In some countries, annual influenza vaccination is recommended and is the
only vaccine available to prevent a respiratory viral infection.
 Handwashing effectively removes cold viruses from the hands.
 Virucidal tissues
 Virucidal hand gels are also available
 Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
 Limiting contact with one's own nasal and conjunctival mucosa can reduce
self-inoculation.

16. QUESTIONS cold????
 Ask me if you are not able to:
 Identify clinical presentations of….
 Explain how to diagnose…..
 Demonstrate differentials of….
 List the complications of….
 List the causes of……
 Outline the epidemiology of….
 Explain the pathogenesis of…..
 Explain the transmission of….
 Treat a patient presenting with…
 Educate how to prevent……

17. References
 Pappas DE., et al Symptom profile of common colds in children. Pediatr Infect
Dis J. 2014;27:8–11 . Online source;
https://pedsinreview.aappublications.org/content/32/2/47 accessed on
11/Jan/2017