2023-06-07 08:38:17
Did you know that “cold” is the most common respiratory infection? Until it may be said that No one has ever had a cold.
Although the cold is not a serious disease. can heal by itself But probably no one really wants to get sick, right?
Especially when sick We want to recover as quickly as possible so that we can return to our normal lives without having an illness limiting our lives.
Colds are caused by viral infections. self-healing It can happen to anyone of all genders and ages. We can all catch a cold every season of the year as well. Whether it’s the summer that encounters hot weather pollution and temperature differences over time rainy season with high humidity and dry winter
Today we come to know more about this disease. In order to properly take care of ourselves and our loved ones.
Colds are mainly caused by viral infections.
self-healing
The viruses that are common causes of colds include Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, Influenza virus and Enterovirus, etc., which can be transmitted very easily. Just touching the secretions of an infected person can catch a cold. Make colds more common in children that may still have low immunity or in people who are not careful about hygiene or someone close to someone who has a cold
Once infected, after the incubation period, it may cause symptoms. The main symptoms of colds include runny nose, nasal congestion, and may also have a sore throat in some cases. These symptoms will disappear within 1-2 weeks when the body’s immune system has dealt with the infection.
Although most viral infections that cause colds have mild symptoms, there are few symptoms. However, there are some viral infections that can cause more severe symptoms of respiratory infections, such as RSV, which causes bronchitis in children under 2 years of age, and influenza viruses, which cause high fever and pain. You can get very fit.
even though it can heal by itself but there is a chance of complications Symptoms to watch out for are signs that you may have a complication from the cold, such as a fever that went away and then returns. or have ear pain which is a symptom of a middle ear infection especially in children or runny nose for more than 10-14 days that may cause suspected sinusitis as well
cold treatment
Cold treatment is symptomatic treatment. There is no need to use antibiotics because disinfectant is a drug used to treat bacterial infections. While colds are mainly caused by viruses.
getting enough rest Drink the right amount of water. eat healthy food keep warm Avoiding being in an environment with rapid temperature changes also contributes to the improvement of cold symptoms. However, during the symptoms should pay attention to hygiene. especially hand washing and the sharing of items contaminated with secretions with others To reduce the spread of infection to people around me.
Medications used to treat cold symptoms include nasal decongestants, the most commonly used are antihistamine drugs such as Chlorpheniramine Maleate or drugs that combine antihistamine with nasal decongestants such as Brompheniramine Maleate, Phenylephrine. Hydrochloride and Phenylpropanolamine Hydrochloride, etc. There are also antipyretic drugs such as Paracetamol and cough syrups, both cough suppressants and expectorants. together, for example, combined tablets that contain Paracetamol, Phenylephrine Hydrochloride and Chlorpheniramine Maleate in the same tablet. drug selection Including the size of the drug used should consult a doctor or pharmacist before use to be safe. And do not forget to always read the warnings on the label before using the drug.
Let’s get to know the drugs that are used often. in the treatment of colds
The first drug was Paracetamol, also known as Acetaminophen It is the most commonly used antipyretic drug in the world. Paracetamol is highly effective in relieving fevers caused by various causes. Paracetamol has a complex mechanism of action. Paracetamol peaks in the blood 30 minutes to 2 hours after taking the drug. The reason why this drug is widely used to relieve pain or reduce fever Because it is a drug that is effective in reducing fever and relieving pain quite well Including having few side effects if used in the right size, not more than 4 grams or 4,000 milligrams per day.
The second drug that is used very often when having a cold is Chlorpheniramine Maleate, or some people call it abbreviated as CPM, is an antihistamine drug that is in the first generation group. The drug will start taking effect about 30 minutes after eating and last for 4-6 hours. You should not drive or work with machinery.
Another group of drugs that are used very often are drugs that reduce nasal congestion. The best known is Phenylephrine Hydrochloride. Acts directly on receptors in the nose. Reduce swelling of the blood vessels in the nose and the ducts that drain fluid from the inner ear. It is often used together with antihistamine drugs to relieve cold symptoms.
The question that always arises when taking multiple drugs together is efficacy and safety. There are also cold relief medicines available in the form of combined tablets. Therefore, I have collected information on the use of common cold relief medicines such as Paracetamol, Chlorpheniramine Maleate and Phenylephrine hydrochloride for you.
In terms of information on the use of combined tablets. The results of the study reported that Combined tablets containing the above three drugs were effective in alleviating cold and flu symptoms compared to placebo without increasing drug-related side effects (1). of people who are difficult to eat Or reduce the workload of those who care for patients who are unable to help themselves. But in terms of treatment efficacy, it may not be different from taking each drug separately. (2) However, the drug should be used under the advice of a doctor or pharmacist. Especially in people who are taking other congenital medicines together as they may interact with each other. And read the warnings on the label carefully before using the drug.
Ref
- Picon PD, Costa MB, da Veiga Picon R, Fendt LC, Suksteris ML, Saccilotto IC, Dornelles AD, Schmidt LF. Symptomatic treatment of the common cold with a fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine and phenylephrine: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Infect Dis. 2013 Nov 22;13:556. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-13-556. PMID: 24261438; PMCID: PMC4222817.
- 2.De Sutter AI, Eriksson L, van Driel ML. Oral antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Jan 21;1(1):CD004976. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004976.pub4. PMID: 35060618; PMCID: PMC8780136.
In summary, the common cold is a common disease and can happen to anyone throughout the year. no matter what season
Even if it can disappear by itself However, care must be taken during the onset of symptoms to reduce the potential for complications. by choosing cold medicine This is a symptomatic treatment without the need for disinfection. which during the use of medication according to symptoms Several medications may be used to relieve individual cold symptoms such as reducing runny nose, nasal congestion, fever, cough, etc. Although there are many groups of cold medicines, But they can be used together safely. And there’s also the option of a combination tablet for convenience in adolescents or adults. It was found that the therapeutic efficacy and safety were not different from the symptomatic cold medicine as separate tablets.
In addition to treatment Protecting yourself from infection by maintaining good personal hygiene is also a good way to reduce the chances of infection and break the cycle of these pathogenic viruses. good hygiene too
#Colds #infectious #diseases #happen #season