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Jerry
Rubin, M.D., Dean Prina, M.D., Nancy Lataitis, M.D., Lisa Miller,
M.D., Kristin Prevedel, M.D.,
Carina Pener, M.D., Bryan Kono, M.D. , Dan Kamlet, PA., Jim Rishavy,
PA-C., Dana McHale, PA-C.,
Ben Jessen, PA-C., Mark Trottier, PA-C., Claudia McGuire, PA-C.,
Tess Cox, PA-C |
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WINTER
HEALTH TIPS
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COLDS
 Causes/Epidemiology
Colds are caused by viruses. There is no cure for the
common cold.
Antibiotics are of absolutely no use in viral colds.
Eventually, your child’s own
immune system will eliminate the infecting virus.
In a given winter season, there may be several viruses
active in the
community at any one time. It is common for a child
to acquire a second viral
infection right on the heels of a first, making the
entire period of illness stretch
up to 15 to 20 days. It may appear as if this is one,
very long-lasting cold when,
in fact, it is probably two separate infections with
two different viruses infecting
your child back-to-back.
Once in a while, the cause of a runny nose (especially
one-sided, thick,
mucous discharge) can be a foreign body stuck up the
nose. In addition,
overuse of nasal sprays (other than homeopathic) can
also produce a pattern of
recurrent nasal discharge and cold-like symptoms.
 Expected
Course
The average duration of acute cold symptoms is 5 to
10 days. A fever is often
present, lasting on average 3 to 4 days. The fever can
range from 100 to 104
degrees. The cough is a prominent symptom. The duration
of a cough associated with a cold is usually one week,
but the cough may persist up to one month.
The
mucous of a runny nose from a cold is initially clear
to white. Over a
few days, however, it may develop into a yellow and
even a green mucous.
Yellow and green mucous are still signs of a viral illness
unless these colors
persist for more than 2 weeks. The yellow and green
discharge is part of the
healing phase of most viruses, and just a few days of
green or yellow discharge
does not mean that your child now has a bacterial infection,
for example, a
sinus infection. This is a common misconception. This
“over-diagnosis” of a
bacterial infection often leads to over-treatment with
antibiotics.
There can be several complications of the common cold.
Pneumonia and
bronchitis from viruses or bacteria are possible, though
not likely. There can be
secondary infections such as ear infections, bacterial
conjunctivitis, sinusitis,
and impetigo.
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