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Summary

Colds are most contagious during the first two to four days. People with colds typically carry the cold virus on their hands, where it is capable of infecting another person for at least two hours. Some cold viruses can live on surfaces (such as countertops, door handles, or toys) for several days. Droplets containing viral particles can be exhaled into the air by breathing, coughing, or sneezing.

The signs and symptoms of a cold usually begin one to two days after exposure. In children, nasal congestion is the most prominent symptom. Children can also have clear, yellow, or green-colored nasal discharge, and fever (temperature greater than 100.4 F or 38 C) is common during the first three days of the illness. Other symptoms may include sore throat, cough, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and decreased appetite.

Most children who have colds do not develop complications. However, parents should be aware of the signs and symptoms of potential complications, including ear infections, asthma, sinusitis, and pneumonia.

There have been few clinical trials of cold medications (Antihistamines, decongestants, cough medicines, and expectorants) in infants and children, and there are no studies that demonstrate any benefit in infants or children. We do not recommend their use in infants and children because of the lack of proven efficacy and the potential risk of dangerous side effects.

Parents may give acetaminophen (Tylenol) (or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) for children greater than six months of age) to treat fever during the first few days. Humidified air can improve symptoms of nasal congestion and runny nose. Parents should encourage their child to drink an adequate amount of fluids; it is not necessary to drink extra fluids.

Antibiotics are not effective in treating colds. They may be necessary if the cold is complicated by a bacterial infection, like an ear infection, pneumonia, or sinusitis. Parents who think their child has developed one of these infections should contact their child's healthcare provider. Inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic resistance, and can possibly lead to side effects, such as an allergic reaction.

A number of alternative products, including zinc, vitamin C, and herbal products such as echinacea, are advertised to treat or prevent the common cold. None of these treatments has been proven to be effective in clinical trials; their use is not recommended.

Simple hygiene measures can help to prevent infection with the viruses that cause colds, including hand washing or use of an alcohol-based hand rub and limiting contact with others who are ill.

Sex hormones 'beat common cold'

Scientists in Australia claim to have made an important discovery about how the immune system reacts to rhinoviruses, the viruses that usually cause the common cold, in men and women.

A team at University of Queensland School of Medicine at Princess Alexandra Hospital found that young women make a much stronger immune response to rhinoviruses than young men. The differences disappeared after menopause, so they were probably regulated by sex hormones, said team leader Prof John Upham, adding these findings were crucially important for finding new ways of combating rhinoviruses.

"While these viruses are just a nuisance in healthy people, they can make people with asthma or other chronic lung diseases very unwell. In our efforts to find new ways to prevent these infections, we need to take into account effects of hormones, and how they affect the immune system," he said.

Prof Upham said the team has now been studying how the immune system worked - or didn't work - in people with asthma.The scientists say that they will further study the effects of hormones on the immune system, with longterm plans for development of a vaccine.

The following organizations also provide reliable health information.

• National Library of Medicine
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html
• National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
www.niaid.nih.gov/
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
www.cdc.gov

[http://ibnlive.in.com/news/sex-hormones-beat-common-cold/162251-19.html,http://www.uptodate.com/contents/patient-information-the-common-cold-in-children]
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