Whats the best way to avoid/cure a common cold?

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There is no cure for the common cold; most people can treat the symptoms at home. If the symptoms become worse after 2 weeks or you are concerned about a child or an elderly person the GP should be consulted.

Antibiotics are not prescribed for the common cold because antibiotics do not work against viruses. Exceptions to this may be if the cold leads on to sinusitis, ear infection, tonsillitis, or if a person has chronic bronchitis and they know that a cold usually develops into a chest infection.

To relieve the symptoms the following may help:

Drinking plenty of fluids is important, especially for children. Warm drinks can be especially soothing.
It is important to avoid smoking as this irritates the nose and throat.
It may be helpful to sleep with more pillows.
Other self-help advice:

Steam inhalations (a towel is placed over the head over a bowl of very hot water) to relieve congestion. The steam itself may help to loosen any mucus and make it easier to clear. Care should be taken to avoid the steam getting into the eyes as this can burn. This is not advised for children because of the risk of scalding. A child may benefit from sitting in a hot steamy bathroom. Some ingredients added to the water, e.g. menthol, eucalyptus, camphor, thymol and pine oil also give a sensation of clearing the passageways. Some products are specially made for babies and young children (over three months), and can be rubbed onto the throat and chest.

Decongestants- Decongestants can be taken by mouth (oral) or used as sprays in the nose (nasal). They work by reducing the swelling in the passageways and help to ease breathing. Oral decongestants for example, pseudoephedrine, phenylpropanolamine, phenylephrine are used in many over-the-counter (OTC) cold remedies.

Oral decongestants can cause a rise in blood pressure and heart rate leading to feeling more alert. They may interact with some antidepressants and beta-blockers, this should be checked with the GP or pharmacist. People with high blood pressure, heart problems or glaucoma should also check before using an oral decongestant. Nasal decongestants for example, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylephrine, ephedrine are applied directly to the inside of the nose. They are available as sprays or nose drops.

Nasal decongestants work specifically on the nose and are usually safe for adults and older children to use. However people taking a certain type of antidepressant (monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOI’s) should not use a nasal decongestant. They should not used for more than 5-7 days as this can lead worse congestion.

Babies may find feeding difficult if they have a blocked nose. Saline (salt water) nose drops (available from the pharmacist) can help if used just before feeding. If this does not work, ephedrine nose drops can be bought OTC at the pharmacist for babies over 3 months. These should not be used for more than 3-4 days.

Antihistamines can be useful because one of the side effects of the older antihistamines is that they can help dry up mucus. Examples of antihistamines used in cold remedies are chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine and triprolidine.

Antihistamines may cause drowsiness, dry mouth, constipation, difficulty in passing urine or blurred vision. They might interact with other drugs that cause drowsiness such as alcohol, and some antidepressants. So check with the pharmacist or GP before taking cold remedies containing antihistamines. People with glaucoma or prostate problems should also check.

Combination oral decongestants and antihistamines- there can be an advantage in combination products of oral decongestants and antihistamines because the oral decongestant can reduce the drowsiness from the antihistamine. Note the precautions of both the decongestants and the antihistamines.

Paracetamol and aspirin are also included in some OTC cold medicines. They reduce fever and temperature and are also painkillers. The maximum daily allowance must be noted. Check with the pharmacist or G.P. if any other painkillers are being taken. Liquid paracetamol, such as Calpol can be useful for babies and children if they have a fever. Aspirin must not be given to children under 16 years.

Vitamin C has also been recommended for cold treatment and prevention. Some products contain vitamin C. Small doses may have some beneficial effects, large doses should be avoided, for example 1 gram (1000 milligrams or mg) This is especially important for diabetics or those taking anticoagulants such as warfarin. There have been recent concerns about the effects of cranberry juice on the effectiveness of warfarin. The Committee on Safety of Medicines is is currently reviewing reports, which suggest that cranberry juice acts to increase the potency of warfarin and may therefore increase the risk of haemorrhage. Present advice is to avoid or limit drinking cranberry juice if you are taking warfarin, until the situation has been investigated further.

Echinacea is a herbal medicine available as drops or tablets. There is currently no evidence that it works to prevent or reduce cold symptoms, but some people believe it to be helpful. Echinacea should not be used for children.

People taking any medication that suppresses the immune system (including steroids, medication for transplants or HIV drugs) should consult the pharmacist or GP before taking any medication for colds.

fresh warm orange juice diluted in water like 2 parts juice, 1 part water.

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Whats the best way to avoid/cure a common cold?

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