Colds and Allergies

What causes a cold?
The cold is caused by a virus or by one of two hundred viruses, the structure of which can change ever so slightly as it is passed from one person to another. You catch the virus by standing close enough to an infected person to breathe in the live virus from their sneezes and coughs, and by touching your eyes, nose or mouth with a hand or an object that has been in contact with a virus-laden surface.

What are the primary symptoms?
The primary symptoms of a cold are:

  • Sniffles ­ these develop as the mucous glands secrete additional fluid.
  • Itching nose, -burning eyes and sore throat ­ these are caused by nerve cells inflamed by all the unusual activity.
  • Sneezing ­ results when tiny hairs lining the nasal cavity are overwhelmed by mucous and cannot sweep out foreign particles.
  • Runny nose - the nose runs because the blood vessels begin to leak plasma. This is a defense mechanism to irrigate and cleanse infected cells.
  • Headaches and stuffiness ­ appear as blood vessels swell and sinuses become clogged.
  • Coughing ­ this is a reflex that helps the body to get rid of all excess fluid produced by the nose, throat and blood vessels.
What causes allergies?
Allergies are caused by exposure to an allergen and unlike the cold they cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Allergies are divided into two major groups:
  • Seasonal allergies ­ are caused by the presence of pollens in the air.
  • Perennial allergies ­ may be present throughout the year and are caused by such allergens as house dust, animal dander and certain foods.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of allergic rhinitis closely mimic those of the common cold and include sneezing, runny nose, itching of the nostrils and nasal congestion. Some persons may also complain of itchy eyes that produce tears.

When does a cold become the flu?
Never. Colds and influenza (flu for short) are two separate infections.

How do you know when your cold is not the flu?
COLDS FLU
Can occur at any time. Occurs mostly during fall and winter.
Affects ears, eyes, nose. Affects windpipe, bronchial tubes and lungs.
Mild symptoms: sneezing, coughing, sore throat. Symptoms develop quickly and are debilitating. Fevers, chills, aches and nausea.
Lasts five to seven days May last two weeks.
No permanent damage. Flu virus destroys cells.
Not dangerous in itself but the complications can be. Potentially fatal.
No effective prevention or cure. Some vaccinations available.

If there is no cure for the cold, why do we take cold medication?
Treatment of the common cold will relieve the symptoms associated with the cold and not the cold itself. It is important that you consult your pharmacist before choosing one of the products that are available over the counter. The pharmacist can assist you in choosing one that is best suited to your condition and which does not adversely react with any existing condition or medication. There is some important information that he or she will need to ensure that you receive the correct product:

  • Do you have diabetes, glaucoma, heart disease, asthma or high blood pressure?
  • Are you taking medication for these complaints and if so, what medication?
  • What other medicines are you taking?
  • Do you suffer from allergies?
  • Does your job require that you remain alert?
There are so many types of cold and allergy medication, but what do they do?
  • Antihistamines ­ used to prevent or relieve the symptoms of allergies and some of those associated with the common cold, e.g. hay fever, runny nose and sneezing. Some of the more popular antihistamines are Chlorpheniramine, Brompheniramine, Tripolidine and Diphenhydramine.

  • Decongestants ­ used to relieve nasal congestion by narrowing of the blood vessels and subsequent clearing of the nasal passages, but this medication may cause an increase in blood pressure in patients with high blood pressure. Ephedrine, Pseudoephedrine, Phenylephrine, Phenylpronolamine are some of the common oral decongestants.

  • Topical decongestants ­ used for the temporary relief of nasal stuffiness due to allergies and colds. This topical medication is usually found as nose drops or nasal sprays. Common ones are Oxymetazoline and Xylometazoline. This medication should not be used for more than three consecutive days as this may cause the nasal stuffiness to worsen and re-occur.

  • Analgesics ­ often used in combination with the above categories or as a single product to relieve headaches, aches, sinus pain, joint pain, and fever. Some common analgesics are paracetamol (acetaminophen), aspirin. Aspirin should never be given to a child with symptoms of a viral infection, especially the flu, as it may cause a serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
What about all the different kinds of coughs?
Coughs are of several types and can be described as follows:
Dry cough cough without expectoration (the production of mucus) or chest congestion.
Hacking cough short, frequent, shallow and feeble coughing.
Productive cough cough with expectoration of material from the bronchi (phlegm).
Congested/Non productive cough cough associated with chest congestion and scant expectoration of phlegm.
Whooping cough an infectious disease characterized by a whooping respiration, catarrh of the respiratory tract and peculiar attack of cough.

How do you control a cough?
To treat a cough, first determine the type of cough and what is causing it. Providing the following information would help:

  • How long have you had the cough?
  • What type of cough is it?
  • When does the cough occur: at bedtime only, after exercise or all the time?
  • What other symptoms have you had with this cough, e.g., runny or stuffy nose, fever, sneezing?
  • Do you have any respiratory problems such as asthma or bronchitis?
Once you have answered these questions then the pharmacist can recommend an appropriate course of therapy that may include non-drug therapy as well as a cough preparation for your type of cough. Many cough preparations are combination products containing more than one product. It is therefore best to choose a preparation that contains only those products needed to lessen your symptoms.

Some of the many methods of managing a cough include:

  • Increasing your intake of fluid to at least eight glasses per day.
  • A cough suppressant may be indicated for the dry, annoying cough, to reduce the frequency and intensity of the cough. Suppressants include Dextromethorphan (DM) and Diphenhydramine hydrochloride, which is also a safe and effective antihistamine.
  • For the frequent and productive cough, increasing the intake of fluid may be all that is required. However, an expectorant such as Ammonium Chloride and Guaifenesin is often used to loosen the mucous or phlegm in the lungs.
Does standing in a puddle really give you a cold?
Standing in a puddle will make you damp and miserable but it will not give you a cold. This is only one of the many myths about colds that we have all heard at one time or another. Other myths are:
You'll get a cold from kissing cold viruses can be spread by kissing but are seldom passed on that way. Only 10% of couples pass on colds by kissing.
Vitamin C will prevent colds while vitamin C will moderate a cold's severity, taking megadoses will not prevent you from catching the cold.
Cold weather causes colds actually, people living in snowy countries have fewer colds than those living in warmer, drier regions. The combination of dry outdoor air and in-door air-conditioning can dehydrate the nasal passages making them more susceptible to cold viruses.
Passing it on People catch colds in wet, chilly weather because they spend more time indoors. Viruses thrive better in close quarters and moist heat. Infectiousness often lasts beyond the first few days. Therefore wait at least five days before sharing with a friend who has a cold.