The common cold is a disease that is familiar to the general public. Usually colds are also often associated with flu. So, are colds and flu the same? Let's discuss further.
Understanding Colds
A cold is a condition where there is fluid or what is often called excess mucus in the nose. This liquid can be in the form of thick or mucus and with various colors such as cloudy or clear. Even sometimes the mucus can also be green, depending on the cause of the cold. At certain times, cold mucus can also go down to the throat.
In fact, the production of mucus in the body is normal. Mucus can serve to ensure that the respiratory tract remains moist so you can breathe normally. In addition, mucus also functions to prevent dirt and germs from entering the body.
However, if mucus is produced in excess, it could be a symptom or sign that you have a certain disease or health condition such as a dust allergy, cold air allergy or exposure to a virus.
A cold is not a serious health problem or disease, but if it persists and gets worse, this condition can interfere with activities because the symptoms are quite hampering daily activities. Colds can cause difficulty breathing because nasal congestion can even make the body weak.
A cold is also one of the most common symptoms suffered by Covid 19 patients. What are the signs of a patient with the Covid 19 virus? Click here for more information.
Symptoms of colds
Colds can cause several signs where each person will have different symptoms or signs. Generally, a person with a cold will experience the following signs:
- Coughs
- often sneeze
- nasal congestion
- difficulty breathing
- the body often feels tired
- sore throat
- mucus feels dripping from the back of the nose to the throat (postnatal drip)
- sometimes accompanied by fever (depending on the patient's resistance)
Causes of colds
A cold occurs when the lining of the nose or sinus area becomes inflamed, which is usually caused by changes in the weather or bacteria entering the nose. In addition, the causes of colds are very diverse, such as:
1. Virus infection
A cold can occur when the virus enters the body through the nose and infects the nose, throat or sinuses. Examples of diseases that often arise from virus infections are influenza, respiratory syncutial virus (RSV), sinusitis, and including Covid 19.
2. Allergies
Allergies can be one of the causes of someone getting a cold. Allergies can be caused by many things such as dust, animal dander, air or pollution, and others. This allergic condition is also known as allergic rhinitis.
3. Exposure to cold or dry air
Cold or dry air can cause disturbances in the fluid balance in the nose. This condition can trigger the nervous system to secrete fluid.
4. Consumption of spicy food
Spicy food can also trigger a cold. Foods in question such as those containing chili, onions, or black pepper.
How to detect a cold
A cold is not a dangerous disease, but there are some complications to watch out for if you have a cold. In detecting a cold, doctors generally will carry out several stages of examination, where at the initial stage the doctor will ask several questions to related sufferers:
- the patient's medical history, whether there are allergies or other diseases that attack the body's immune system
- Consumption of the latest drugs carried out by the patient, is there any use of nasal lozenges in the form of sprays?
- symptoms or signs felt by the patient
- Do you have pets, or have you been exposed to dust or animal hair to your nose in the near future?
In addition, if needed, the doctor can also use a special tool to examine the nose area. The goal is to determine the area of irritation in the nasal cavity.
When to go to the doctor
In some cases, the cold can be said to heal by itself. However, there are some cold conditions that require further treatment, especially from a doctor, such as if the patient experiences the following symptoms:
- Green and bloody mucus comes out, it can even be accompanied by an unpleasant odor
- mucus that comes out accompanied by pain in the sinus area
- can last for more than 10 days
- accompanied by high fever, severe headache to severe pain in the forehead or face area
- Loss of sense of smell (anosmia) and sense of taste (ageusia)
- to cause shortness of breath
- nasal mucus comes out as a result of an injury to the head
You also need to be careful if a cold occurs in your child, especially in babies. This is because a cold in babies can be a serious disease. Immediately seek medical attention if a baby under 2 months of age catches a cold, because complications of difficulty breathing can occur.
Treatments that can be done
How to deal with colds can be done in many ways. Colds can be relieved by getting plenty of rest, drinking enough water and making sure your immune system is strong. But other than that, how to relieve colds requires the consumption of drugs recommended by doctors to prevent side effects that may occur.
If you have a persistent cold that does not go away or subsides, consult your doctor immediately. Royal Progress Hospital has Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialists and internal medicine specialists who can help treat your cold symptoms. Click here to make an appointment with an ENT specialist.
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