If patients are suffering from nasal congestion, a systemic or topical decongestant may be appropriate. Therapies available for symptom relief include antihistamines, decongestants, expectorants, antitussives, and analgesics/antipyretics used as monotherapy or in combination. Before the pharmacist makes a recommendation, the patient should be assessed to determine if he or she is a candidate for self-treatment ( Table 2). There are a multitude of products available to help provide relief from the symptoms of the common cold. 5 Since then, manufacturers have changed the labeling of cough and cold products to state, “Do not use in children under 4 years of age.” 6 For children between the ages of 4 and 6 years, there is limited evidence of clinically significant benefit regarding OTC products for treatment of the common cold. It is important to note that giving OTC medications to children less than 2 years of age may be dangerous in 2008, the FDA recommended that OTC cough and cold medications be avoided in children younger than 2 years. Treatment is limited to symptom relief and patients will often visit the pharmacy to inquire about OTC remedies. 4īecause the common cold is a viral infection, antibiotics should be avoided. Many patients seek out nonprescription medications for symptom relief, leading to expenditures in excess of $8 billion annually on cough and cold products.
The common cold is the leading cause of missed work and school days during the winter months. Nevertheless, people with influenza are sicker than those experiencing common cold symptoms and commonly manifest such signs and symptoms as temperatures greater than 102☏, chills, headaches, myalgia, and malaise ( Table 1).
The influenza virus can be dangerous in older people and in those patients who are immunocompromised. Types A and B affect humans, with type A generating more severe symptoms. The flu is caused by the influenza virus, classified as type A, B, or C. The common cold is often mistaken for the flu. 3 While the cold does not cause serious illness or complications in most cases, patients with comorbidities may be at a higher risk for complexities such as exacerbations of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumonia. 2 In addition to age, factors such as stress and lack of sleep may increase the risk of the common cold. Data indicate that children experience colds about six to eight times a year, adults younger than age 60 years tend to have two to four colds per year, and adults older than age 60 years usually have only one cold a year.
2 The incidence of the common cold declines with increasing age. Generally, most symptoms subside within 7 to 10 days, although some symptoms can persist for up to 3 weeks. 1 Symptoms commonly associated with the common cold include coughing, nasal congestion, low-grade fever, and fatigue, usually presenting 1 to 2 days after exposure. Typically, it is an acute, self-limiting viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that is most frequently caused by rhinoviruses. The common cold is a condition that is prevalent in the community and is associated with a variety of symptoms.
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