Adults get a cold about two to four times a year, and children can get a cold contagious up to eight times a year. But there are medications or home remedies that can help and provide optimal prevention.
What is a cold contagious?
A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract. It is accompanied by dry mucous membranes, headaches, tiredness, a runny nose, sometimes fever and often a cough and lasts one to two weeks at most. In more than four out of five cases, a virus causes the infection and triggers the symptoms. Doctors also call a cold contagious a flu-like infection. Compared to the flu, however, the symptoms of a cold are much less serious and usually disappear on their own after a few days.
The common cold is the most common illness in the world. It is the reason most people go to the doctor and it is responsible for the most days missed from school or work. Adults get a cold about two to four times a year, while children can get a cold up to eight times a year. Boys are affected more often than girls.
Treat the cold and get rid of it quickly
There are various ways to get rid of a cold contagious quickly. The symptoms usually disappear on their own within two to three days. If you still want to do something about it, there are a variety of options available, from painkillers such as ibuprofen to herbal remedies and a cold bath to tried and tested home remedies.
Ibuprofen for colds and other medications
Doctors often recommend painkillers such as ibuprofen to relieve fatigue and headaches, sore throats, earaches or limb pain. Ibuprofen also reduces the number of sneezes people have to sneeze. In addition to ibuprofen, cold contagious, medications such as paracetamol and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) have been shown to reduce cold symptoms.
Decongestant nasal drops or nasal sprays can help with a blocked nose. They work for up to eight hours, but should not be used for more than seven days at a time.
It is usually sufficient to treat the symptoms with ibuprofen or paracetamol and possibly use a nasal spray. Researchers have not observed a comparable soothing effect for other “cold remedies”.
If you still prefer to use herbal medicines, cineole and myrtol, as well as pelargonium extracts, are suitable. They also relieve cold symptoms, but not as effectively as conventional remedies. They only work after a delay of four to seven days.
The effectiveness of nasal douches and nasal rinses is controversial. In some studies, researchers observed that their use slightly alleviates cold symptoms. Since there are almost no side effects, nasal douches and nasal rinses can be used as a supplement, say the researchers. However, if the nose is rinsed too often, it irritates the nasal mucous membranes, which is why some experts advise against using them. In any case, only filtered, boiled or distilled water should be used.
Inhalation for cold contagious and cold baths
Inhaling when you have a cold contagious can also help combat the symptoms. It doesn't matter whether you add tea, salt or oils to the water. The effect is created by the steam, which soothes the mucous membranes and increases blood circulation. Inhaling should take about ten to 20 minutes and you shouldn't go outside straight away afterwards. The same applies to a ten to 20 minute cold bath, which promotes blood circulation and relaxes the muscles. Smokers should try to avoid cigarettes while they have a cold and also minimize passive smoking so as not to further irritate the respiratory tract.
Antibiotics for cold contagious
Treatment with antibiotics is not necessary for a common cold contagious. In the vast majority of cases, it would not help at all. Most colds are caused by viruses, which antibiotics do not help against. Antibiotics should only be used if the symptoms are severe, there is a fever of over 38.3 degrees , the symptoms increase rather than decrease over time, or the patient has other conditions such as chronic lung disease or a malfunctioning immune system . When some doctors prescribe antibiotics for a cold, they do so to fight additional infections caused by bacteria.
Home remedies for a cold contagious
If you have a cold contagious, you should make sure you drink enough. There are also a number of home remedies. However, the effectiveness of home remedies is rarely scientifically proven. However, their use has proven successful over many generations to alleviate patients' suffering.
Cold tea and other commonly used home remedies
A cold tea made from elderflower with honey is said to induce healing sweating at the onset of an infection.
Rinsing the mouth, nose and throat with saline solution is intended to disinfect the mucous membranes.
Onion juice made from a diced onion that has been boiled with sugar or honey is said to help against coughs.
A chest compress made from a linen cloth that has been placed in cold water, wrung out and wrapped in a dry terry cloth towel is said to loosen mucus in the respiratory tract.
The extract obtained from a boiled soup chicken is said to help against all kinds of infections.
A hot lemon with honey is also said to help soothe the mucous membranes.
In addition to home remedies, taking zinc can help against a cold. If you take 75 milligrams a day after the first symptoms appear, you can reduce the duration of the cold and also the severity of the symptoms. However, it is not advisable to take zinc preventively in order to avoid colds altogether.
There is no evidence that taking vitamin C helps when a cold is coming on. However, you should make sure that your diet contains enough vitamin C. Vegetables, fruit, juices and smoothies provide natural protection against colds, especially in winter.
cold contagious during pregnancy
Pregnant women are particularly prone to cold contagious. The immune system concentrates on protecting the fetus. This makes the mother somewhat more susceptible to infections. However, a cold during pregnancy is not dangerous for the baby.
It is a little more difficult to recognize a cold in pregnant women because the body is changing anyway. Around half of women complain of breathing difficulties in the 19th week of pregnancy and up to 80 percent in the 31st week. However, this is due to the strain on the circulatory system and not to a cold. Coughing and fever, however, are not side effects of pregnancy and should be investigated.
Despite the general caution regarding medication during pregnancy, women can take some medications to relieve cold symptoms. These include paracetamol. Doctors only recommend ibuprofen in the first two trimesters. Women can also use nasal sprays. Simple salt water sprays are preferable to decongestant sprays with active ingredients. However, with medications such as sprays, it is essential to take them for as short a period of time as possible and to always discuss this with your doctor beforehand.
In general, non-medicinal treatments are preferable for colds during pregnancy. This also applies to the period after birth if mothers are breastfeeding. (Note: The Berlin Charité offers an analysis of medications and their effect on the fetus during pregnancy and the baby during breastfeeding at www.embryotox.de .)
How long is a cold contagious?
A cold is an infection caused by viruses. In about a third of cases, rhinoviruses are the cause. In total, however, doctors have already identified over 200 different viruses that can cause a cold.
The viruses can also be transmitted in the form of droplets when people with colds cough and sneeze in crowded public places such as buses or trains. In most cases, however, infection occurs via the hands when someone shakes hands with someone with a cold. When people rub their eyes or nose, the viruses enter the respiratory tract. The incubation period, i.e. the time from infection to the onset of symptoms, is one to two days. The most important protection against a cold is therefore to wash your hands regularly or to avoid physical contact, for example when greeting someone.
People with colds are particularly contagious in the early stages and in the first one or two days after the first symptoms appear. During this time, the body excretes the viruses. They can be passed on to other people through coughing and sneezing, or onto your own hands when you blow your nose.
Symptoms and course of the cold
A cold usually lasts one to two weeks. In the first phase, at the beginning of the cold, the nose and throat feel dry. Some people also experience headaches. After about one to two days, the nasal mucosa swells and the nose runs. The secretion is clear and watery and becomes thicker as the cold progresses. If there is also a bacterial infection, green or yellow mucus may also appear.
Over time, breathing becomes more difficult. This leads to a nasal voice and poorer sleep. When you have a cold, it often feels as if your ears are blocked. The feeling of pressure can lead to earache. People with colds smell worse and have to sneeze and cough. The cough can be mucousy and you may have difficulty swallowing.
In addition, there is aching limbs or back pain and a slight fever, which usually does not rise above 38 degrees in the case of a cold. In children, the fever can rise to as high as 39 degrees. If you blow your nose frequently, the skin around the entrance to the nose quickly becomes a little sore. In small children, the symptoms are a little more severe, and nausea with vomiting or diarrhea can occur. After one or two weeks at the latest, the symptoms subside on their own.
Overview of symptoms
Sniffles
Cough
Poor breathing through nose
Headache, limb pain or earache
General fatigue
Poorer sense of smell
Possibly slight fever
When should you see a doctor for a cold?
In the vast majority of cases, a cold goes away on its own. In two thirds of all colds, this happens within two weeks. The cough usually lasts a little longer. If the cold does not go away and the symptoms do not improve within a few days or even get worse, a visit to the doctor is recommended. This also applies if the symptoms are particularly severe. This means: fever over 39 degrees, chills, severe headaches, vomiting or chest pain. These symptoms indicate that it could be a real flu or pneumonia rather than a cold.
Similar advice applies to small children with colds . Parents should take them to the doctor if the cough does not go away after two weeks, if yellow mucus forms or if the fever is particularly high.