Tapti woke up this morning with body pain. Her nose is running and she is sneezing often. She has traveled from Madurai and she is convinced that the change of water has made her come down with a cold. Her mother-in-law, however, swears that the cold came on because she had curd rice last afternoon, immediately after coming in sweating from the hot sun. Is either of them right about the cause of Tapti’s cold?

What causes a cold?

A virus causes the common cold. Nasal congestion, sneezing, and runny nose are the usual symptoms. Drinking cold fluids, eating curds or ice cream does not cause a cold. A cold virus spreads through tiny, air droplets that are released when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or blows his nose. That is why travelling or working in a crowded place exposes you to the virus. Children in classrooms are particularly susceptible to picking up the virus from their schoolmates. You can even get a cold when you touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus.

The viruses that cause colds provoke inflammation that increases the leakage of fluid from the blood vessels into the lining of the nose and into the nose. The swelling of the lining of the nose causes the feeling of a ‘blocked nose’ and also leads to a runny nose.

Treatment for a cold

The old saying goes, ‘Without treatment a cold will last a week and with treatment it will last only for seven days!’ The fetish for avoiding ‘cold’ food like curds, cold water and juices when you have a cold or cough has no basis in science.

For short-term relief of nasal congestion, nasal decongestants can be used. Nasal decongestants are chemicals (for example, pseudoephedrine and oxymetazoline) that decrease the swelling of the lining of the nose. This relieves the ‘blocked’ nose. Nasal decongestants can be used topically within the nose (as nasal drops or spray) or can be taken orally as tablets. Steam inhalation with a menthol preparation can also relieve the symptoms of a cold.

Oral nasal decongestants frequently are combined with an antihistamine, a cough suppressant, or an analgesic in treating cold, flu or allergy symptoms.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen are excellent for relieving the headaches and body pain that accompany a cold and cough.