How to treat a cold in adults and children
A cold is a general name for diseases of the upper respiratory tract, which are accompanied by certain pronounced symptoms. Such symptoms do not belong to the category of specific and may indicate more serious pathologies. That is why the treatment of a cold should be carried out only after an examination by a doctor - a specialist will be able to rule out flu, bronchitis and other diseases.
Causes of colds
Mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract of a person are inhabited by a lot of bacteria - among them are opportunistic bacteria. With normal immunity, no manifestations of the disease are observed, but if its violation occurred, then a cold is inevitable. Most often, the symptoms of a cold appear against the background of the following factors:
- general hypothermia of the body;
- local hypothermia - for example, when walking barefoot on a cold floor;
- increased sweating and staying in a draft - for example, if a person escapes from the summer heat under an air conditioner;
- consumption of cold drinks and food.
Colds are less common in adults than in children - their immunity is strong, so even with severe hypothermia, the body is protected.
The pathology is not necessarily contagious, because it does not always belong to acute respiratory viral infections.
Symptoms of a cold
The first manifestations of the disease include general weakness, headache, pain in muscles and joints. If you resort to medical measures at this stage, you can stop the progression of the pathology. But in most cases, after some time from the moment of the first manifestations, the following signs of a cold appear:
- nasal congestion and runny nose;
- severe headaches with localization in the frontal and temporal region;
- unpleasant sensations in the throat - excessive dryness, heartburn;
- increased lacrimation;
- Frequent sneezing, which may aggravate the headache.
A rise in temperature during a cold is a non-permanent sign. More often, the disease passes without hyperthermia, but in the evenings it is possible to increase the body temperature to subfebrile numbers - 37.0-37.5 degrees Celsius.
How to treat a cold in adults and children
Colds are most often treated at home, hospitalization is not required. But it should be remembered that in the absence of positive results after 2-3 days of therapeutic measures, as well as when the body temperature rises to critical values, it is necessary to immediately consult a doctor: the disease may progress, the symptoms of which are disguised as a cold.
A cold in a child and an adult can be treated with the following means:
- Antipyretic drugs - Citramon, Paracetamol, Nurofen. If the child is being treated, the package should have a corresponding label.
- Antiviral drugs - Remantadin, Viferon, Derinat.
- Symptomatic drugs. Drops in the nose, if you are worried about a runny nose and congestion, syrups or pills for cough, sprays for sore throat.
Folk remedies will also be effective, especially if a cold has developed without an increase in temperature. They include:
- tea made from raspberry and lingonberry leaves;
- milk with honey (not hot, but warm);
- foot baths with mustard;
- inhalation of a decoction of chamomile, sage;
- rubbing of the chest (the area of the anatomical location of the heart is excluded) with badger fat and tinctures on vodka.
How to treat a cold in small children? First of all, you need to seek help from a pediatrician - he will give competent recommendations. Secondly, it is necessary to immediately choose a vitamin and mineral complex - this will strengthen immunity and speed up recovery. Similar appointments for colds are also recommended for adults.
A cold during pregnancy should be treated only under the supervision of a doctor. Common folk remedies can provoke severe allergies or affect the intrauterine development of a child.
You will learn more about whether it is possible to do without medication for a cold on the pages of our site Dobrobut.com.
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