The common cold is a general name for a complex of inflammatory respiratory diseases. However, hypothermia is not their direct cause. Rather, it creates favorable conditions for infection of the body with a virus or bacteria.
An adult suffers from acute respiratory infections from one to three times a year. This illness is not dangerous, but it significantly interferes with leading a full life. Few people can afford to spend a week, or even more, on a cold. We offer accessible instructions for recovery in one day. First, let's get acquainted with the main symptoms of acute respiratory infections.
Cold symptoms
The first signs of the disease may appear a couple of hours after infection, or may not be felt for up to two days. Symptoms usually occur in this order:
- Day 1. Sore throat caused by pharyngitis - inflammation of the pharyngeal mucosa.
- Day 2-3. Runny nose, sneezing, feeling of stuffiness caused by rhinitis - inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
- Day 4-5. A cough that occurs due to a sore throat that irritates the cough receptors. As the virus moves towards the bronchi, coughing becomes a reaction to increased secretion and is necessary to remove sputum.
Weakness and body aches may accompany the patient all the time, or may go away on the third day. These are common manifestations of asthenic syndrome. It may also include photophobia, emotional depression, and heightened sensitivity to sounds and smells. All this indicates an increased load to which the nervous system is exposed during illness.
How are breathers and recuperators useful during epidemics of viral diseases?
- most models are equipped with filters that can retain viruses and bacteria;
- the recirculation function cleans the “internal” air, making the microclimate healthier;
- thanks to the air heating system, there are no drafts, which are one of the main causes of colds;
- Some models have functions such as air disinfection with ultraviolet light, as well as cleaning it from harmful microorganisms using a cold plasma generator (ozonator).
The products of such a Russian brand as Tion (Tion O2, Tion Lite, and other models) are well known on the breather market. In the category of affordable ventilators, OXY products are worth mentioning. Among recuperators, equipment from Vakio is especially in demand.
How to distinguish a cold from other diseases?
A cold is an unpleasant phenomenon, but relatively safe. However, other, more serious diseases can manifest exactly the same symptoms. Therefore you need to know the following:
- Fever does not always occur with a cold. It never exceeds 39 degrees and subsides after a maximum of two days. Otherwise, we are no longer talking about ARVI, but about the flu.
- A sore throat does not always indicate a cold. If it does not go away for a long time, it is accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes and the appearance of purulent plaque on the tonsils, this indicates tonsillitis (tonsillitis). Antibacterial therapy is already required here.
- A cough with acute respiratory infections lasts no longer than two weeks. If it continues, it is possible that pneumocystis, fungi or mycoplasma have entered the body.
So you shouldn’t attribute any ailment to a cold. Otherwise, there is a high risk of not paying attention to the emerging dangerous disease. It will be more difficult to treat in the future.
Symptoms of acute respiratory infections in adults
There are many symptoms for each individual viral and bacterial infection. But there are general signs of acute respiratory infections in adults, which can be used to judge the onset of the disease:
- Runny nose. Everyone is familiar with a runny nose, during which it is difficult to breathe through the nose and there is copious discharge. Often the cause is a viral disease, but a bacterial infection is also possible against the background of a general weakening of the body. If you have a runny nose, rhinitis, sinusitis, or their complications are diagnosed.
- Cough. The usual state. Cough varies in severity and is accompanied by pain or soreness. This is an extremely varied symptom in which laryngitis, bronchitis, tracheitis, as well as diseases of the larynx, trachea or bronchi can be diagnosed.
- Temperature increase. Mild forms of colds can pass without fever, but this is not always good. The temperature shows that the immune system is fighting off invaders. But a temperature above 38ºC requires close attention from the patient and doctors. High fever is typical for influenza viruses.
- General weakness and headache are a consequence of intoxication of the body and are very characteristic of a cold.
Viruses tend to invade a specific location in the body and develop there. The initial focus of infection may be in the mucous membrane of the nose or throat. This is where specific respiratory diseases originate - sinusitis, rhinitis, tracheitis, bronchitis, laryngitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis and others1.
General recommendations
Rarely does anyone immediately consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear. The first two or three days you can just lie down. But if after four days your health does not begin to improve or worsens, you cannot do without medical help.
If you are convinced that you have ARVI, you can use the following methods to ease the course of the disease:
- drink more (especially if you have a fever);
- refrain from smoking;
- rest (ideally sleep) as long as possible;
- dress comfortably (you can wrap yourself in blankets only if you are cold);
- ventilate the room;
- humidify the air.
Vitamins will also help. In addition to citrus fruits, black currants, sea buckthorn and ginger provide the vitamin C necessary for a cold body. Honey will help strengthen your immune system.
Garlic and ginger are the best herbal disinfectants
Ginger is often used in the treatment of ARVI and influenza. Grated ginger root is an excellent disinfectant, warming and tonic. It can be added to tea, and infusions and decoctions can be prepared based on it. If you don't have stomach problems, you can use garlic. There is a proven recipe - squeeze the juice from several heads of garlic, then mix it with honey in a one-to-one ratio and take this remedy one tablespoon twice a day.
Sliced garlic releases phytoncides into the air, which neutralize the infection. You can place a plate of grated or chopped garlic next to your bed.
Cure a cold in one day
Medicines that are freely sold in all pharmacies will help us with this. Our goal is to quickly eliminate symptoms.
| Symptom | What do you need | Examples of active ingredients |
| General weakness and fever | Antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic | Ibuprofen Paracetamol |
| A sore throat | Antiseptics | Hexethidine Biclotymol Ambazon |
| Runny nose | Antiseptics, decongestants, vasoconstrictors | Xylometazoline Sea water Phenylephrine |
| Cough | Secretolytics, mucolytics | Ambroxol Bromhexine Thermopsis herb Ginger rhizome extract Acetylcysteine |
Ways of infection with herpes virus type 1
There are several reasons for infection:
- Contact directly with the patient, for example, a husband can infect his wife or vice versa, with an ordinary kiss.
- The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets.
- If you use the patient's personal belongings, for example, a towel, toothbrush, bedding.
A newborn can become infected during labor. Infection is also possible inside the womb; during pregnancy, herpes can penetrate the uterus and reach the baby through the placenta.
The infection enters the body through the mucous membrane, overcoming all barriers. Subsequently, it spreads, filling nerve cells, and begins to actively multiply, leaving its particles in the genes. For a long time, while a person’s immunity is strong, herpes does not appear, but waits for the moment when the immune system weakens.
Unfortunately, the virus cannot be completely eliminated from the body, so to protect yourself from infection, you must follow safety precautions.
Is there a cure specifically for colds?
The listed groups of medications have a complex effect on all inflammatory foci. But it wouldn’t hurt to undergo antiviral therapy. For this purpose, the following active ingredients are used:
- interferon (“Grippferon”);
- rimantadine (“Remantadine”);
- tilorone ("Lavomax");
- umifenovir (Arbidol).
It is recommended to consult a doctor before taking them. Colds are easily treated with symptomatic treatment. But if there are no positive changes within a few days (or even get worse), it’s probably not an acute respiratory infection. Flu, sore throat and other illnesses that start out like a cold can have serious consequences. Therefore, if your health worsens, it is important to consult a doctor promptly.
RINZA® for colds and flu
With ARVI, you have to deal with fever, cough and runny nose at the same time. Combination drugs, including representatives of the RINZA®12,14,15 line, allow you to act immediately on this entire complex of symptoms.
The preparations RINZA® and Rinzasip® with vitamin C are intended for the symptomatic treatment of influenza and acute respiratory viral infection in adults and adolescents over 15 years of age12,14. Rinzasip® for children is suitable for use from 6 years of age15. They contain paracetamol, which has antipyretic and analgesic effects12,14,15. Thanks to this, RINZA® drugs help fight symptoms such as fever, body aches, and headache12,14.15.
In addition to the main antipyretic and analgesic effect, RINZA® drugs have additional effects:
- Caffeine in RINZA® enhances the effect of paracetamol12,13.
- The antiallergic component of RINZA® tablets, as well as RINZASIP® with vitamin C and RINZASIP® for children, help reduce itching in the nose and eyes and facilitate nasal breathing12,14,15.
- Phenylephrine, which is included in RINZA® and RINZASIP® with vitamin C, has a vasoconstrictor effect. Its action is aimed at reducing swelling of the nasal mucosa and facilitating nasal breathing during illness12,14.
- Ascorbic acid in the composition of RINZASIP® with vitamin C and RINZASIP® for children helps increase the body's resistance and recovery from flu and colds14,15.
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Additional measures
Some categories of patients are particularly sensitive to certain drugs. For some they are completely contraindicated. Additional measures must be taken to treat such patients. So, in the first trimester of pregnancy, taking medications is generally undesirable. It is better to use folk remedies. In the last three months you should not drink a lot of liquid. Although this helps to cope with ARVI, the consequences can be serious. Sodium leaching and kidney overload are very dangerous for a pregnant woman.
When treating children under three years of age, essential oils are contraindicated. If they help an adult to recover, in a child, the course of the disease, on the contrary, may become more severe. In addition, the risk of an allergic reaction from an incompletely formed immune system cannot be ruled out.
What medications are used to treat colds and influenza?
To fight the infection, the doctor may prescribe antiviral drugs and agents to support and stimulate the immune system2. However, more attention is paid to symptomatic therapy, which is aimed at combating the unpleasant manifestations of the disease, helping to alleviate the patient’s condition and prevent the development of complications2,6.
Symptomatic remedies for influenza and ARVI
| Antipyretics | Antipyretic drugs are used for high fever in adults and children. They help keep temperature under control and relieve headaches and muscle pain2. This is especially true for influenza infection, but can also be useful for other acute respiratory viral infections that occur with fever and symptoms of intoxication. |
| Anticongestants | The action of anticongestants, which have a vasoconstrictor effect, is aimed at reducing swelling of the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. These can be nasal medications for runny nose and nasal congestion, or general medications that need to be taken orally2. |
| Expectorants and mucolytics (thinning sputum) | These drugs are indicated for wet coughs, as they facilitate the passage of sputum and make it less viscous2. |
| Antitussives | Used for dry, painful cough2. |
| Antiallergic | They help reduce swelling of the mucous membrane affected by viruses, due to this they reduce the manifestations of ARVI2. |
Depending on the course of the disease, other medications may be used. For example, when a bacterial infection occurs, antibiotics are indicated. Whether it is worth taking them is always decided by the doctor4.
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Myths about colds
Although acute respiratory infection has been known to medicine for a long time, there are still myths about its treatment methods and precautions. We have collected the most popular of them:
| Myth | In fact |
| If you have a cold, you should keep the windows closed and not go outside. | Fresh air is the enemy of the virus. Regular ventilation keeps the house free from infections. |
| The patient needs to be warmed. | No one has canceled the body’s need for normal thermoregulation. Overheating is no less dangerous than hypothermia. |
| A person with a cold should not wash. | In cold water it’s really not worth it, because hypothermia weakens the immune system. It’s possible and even necessary in a warm place. The patient sweats, and with then toxins come out. They need to be washed off. |
| Ice cream is a surefire way to catch a cold. | The cause of the disease is a virus, not a cold. Whether a person will eat so much ice cream to weaken their immune system is a big question. When you have a sore throat, this dessert is actually useful. It relieves swelling, inhibits the inflammatory process and reduces discomfort. |
What are the disadvantages of conventional ventilation?
It’s quite logical here - why can’t you just ventilate it? Of course you can. But at the same time, in order to maintain a normal level of air exchange, you need to ventilate every 1.5 - 2 hours. One more nuance: at night we need fresh air even more than during the day, but if you are sick, then you cannot leave the window open at night. In winter, spring and autumn this can lead to hypothermia and complications.
And that is not all. In many apartment buildings, for various reasons, the hood does not work as it should - this means that most of the time you breathe “waste” air, which contains viruses, dust and is oversaturated with carbon dioxide. You can forget about a quick recovery in such conditions.
Why do you need “manual” ventilation if you can make it automatic by trusting a simple and reliable device? We are talking about breathers (ventilators) and recuperators. Such equipment combines the functions of fresh air ventilation and an air purifier.
A little help:
Breezer. Compact device in a housing, equipped with an axial fan and an air filter system. Installed on a through channel in the outer wall, it provides a constant flow of fresh air and cleans it from street dust, smog and other contaminants.
Recuperator. A device with similar functions, additionally equipped with a recovery unit - an air heating system without the cost of electricity (by retaining the “internal” heat of the room).
Does toothpaste help with herpes?
Toothpaste for herpes has been used since ancient times. The product is very productive, since the paste contains components that have an anti-inflammatory effect and dry out the skin. Regular use allows you to quickly eliminate the infection.
It is enough to apply a small layer of paste to the damaged area and leave the product for twenty minutes. Before applying, remove any particles of makeup from your lips. The paste is washed off with warm water. The procedure is performed every six hours.
Some recommendations for using toothpaste for herpes:
- do not use a paste with a whitening effect if it contains dyes and flavors;
- Do not use a product that contains menthol and alcohol, as these substances cause skin irritation.
How to get rid of herpes in 5 minutes at home
In fact, it is impossible to get rid of herpes in 5 minutes, the minimum time is a day. In this matter, it is important to quickly respond to the first symptoms of the disease.
You can eliminate the infection within a day using:
- Peppermint oil. The product helps stop the spread of bacteria throughout the body. For application you need to use a cotton swab.
- Vanilla extract. A small amount is enough; apply to a non-inflamed area of the lip up to 5 times a day. The product has an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effect. After a day, the pain and inflammation disappear completely.
- Hydrogen peroxide. Kills bacteria and germs, used to treat skin wounds and eliminate infections. Make a compress based on the preparation by diluting two teaspoons of peroxide in fifty milligrams of water. It is enough to moisten a cotton swab and treat the sore spot with it.
All methods are safe for health.
Diagnostic methods
Diagnosing pathology is not easy. To begin with, the patient is examined and a general blood test is taken.
A swab is taken from the mouth to detect herpes. If this cannot be done, the PCR and ELISA methods are prescribed.
Consultation with an infectious disease specialist, dermatologist and therapist is important.
How to quickly cure a cold on the lip using folk remedies
A cold on the lip can be cured with folk remedies if a special cream is not available. Traditional methods are very effective if the disease is at an early stage of development.
Several effective ways:
- Tea bag. Tea contains tannic acid, which has an antiviral effect. The bag is applied to the site of inflammation for several minutes. The same procedure can be carried out using a piece of ice, sage or tea tree oil.
- Lemon juice. Cut off a small piece and apply it to the affected area of the lip. Acid helps destroy microbes.
- Ointment recipe: crush two cloves of garlic and an apple in a mortar. Apply the product to the lips four times a day until complete recovery.
- Mouthwash or toothpaste. These products allow you to get rid of microbes and neutralize the inflammatory process.
All these methods have no side effects and are completely safe for health. In rare cases, an allergic reaction to any component is possible.
You will learn even more information about how to quickly cure a cold on the lips by watching the video:
How to quickly get rid of herpes under the nose
If herpes forms under the nose, you need to act in the same way as in the case of a rash on the lip.
If the immune system is strong, then no special therapy is required. During an exacerbation period, it is important to maintain personal hygiene and not contact people so as not to infect them.
The following drugs are used to treat and eliminate symptoms:
- Acyclovir or Zovirax in ointment form.
- Immunostimulants, which help strengthen the immune system and block the replication of the virus.
- Antiviral drugs: Valacyclovir and Famciclovir.
- Shilajit powder. The inflamed area is treated with powder, it gives a positive effect both at the initial stage of the disease and later.
- Saline solution. Table salt is mixed with water, it is important to get a thick, mushy mass. The solution is applied to the affected area, this helps dry the wound and speed up healing.
- An infusion based on string, chamomile and calendula. You can make compresses or lotions. Herbs help eliminate the inflammatory process.
- Egg film. It is removed from the shell, and the adhesive part is applied to the site of inflammation.
It is worth consulting with your doctor, he will prescribe what is necessary in your case.
What complications can it cause?
Herpes spreads throughout the body instantly, and some of the virus can penetrate the eye area. This contributes to the development of ophthalmoherpes, it causes vision problems, and complete loss of vision is possible.
Herpes also negatively affects the mucous system of the gastrointestinal tract. As a result, this leads to the formation of erosions and ulcers.
The virus affects the peripheral and central nervous system; without timely treatment, paralysis is possible.
The adrenal glands, kidneys and genitourinary system are damaged. With constant stress on these organs, serious chronic diseases develop.
