Treatments for Common cold
Treatments for Common cold:
Treatment of the common cold starts with prevention. Preventive measures include covering the mouth and nose with an elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and washing hands frequently with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Antibacterial cleaners can also be effectively used to clean hands and surfaces. It is also important to avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth, which can transmit the virus from the hands into nose and mouth.
There is currently no cure for the common cold. Once the disease is contracted, treatment includes measures aimed at relieving symptoms so that a person is comfortable enough to get the rest needed to keep up strength and recover without developing complications.
Treatment includes rest, drinking extra fluids, and using over-the-counter cold remedies as directed to ease symptoms. However, it is currently recommended that children under the age of six not use cold or cough drugs because of the risk of serious side effects.
Alternative treatments include supplements or products that contain vitamin C, echinacea, or zinc. Chicken soup is a time-tested home remedy that can help to break up congestion and provides easy-to-digest nutrients and extra fluid to help keep up strength.
Antibiotics are not prescribed for the common cold because they are ineffective against the viruses that cause the common cold. However, antibiotics may be prescribed if a person develops a secondary bacterial infection as a complication of the common cold, such as bacterial pneumonia or acute bronchitis.
In some rare cases, antiviral drugs may be prescribed.
Treatment List for Common cold
The list of treatments mentioned in various sources
for Common cold
includes the following list.
Always seek professional medical advice about any treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Alternative Treatments for Common cold
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed as possibly helpful for Common cold may include:
Common cold: Is the Diagnosis Correct?
The first step in getting correct treatment is
to get a correct diagnosis.
Differential diagnosis list for Common cold may include:
Common cold: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers
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Common cold: Research Doctors & Specialists
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Drugs and Medications used to treat Common cold:
Note:You must always seek professional medical advice about any prescription drug, OTC drug, medication, treatment
or change in treatment plans.
Some of the different medications used in the treatment of Common cold include:
- Diphenhydramine
- Acetaminophen-PM
- AID to Sleep
- Allerdryl
- Allergy Capsules
- Allergy Formula
- Allermax
- Ambenyl Expectorant
- Ambenyl Syrup
- Anacin P.M
- Aspirin-Free
- Banophen
- Bayer Select
- Beldin Syrup
- Bena-D
- Benadryl
- Benadryl 25
- Benahist
- Benylin
- Benylin Decongestant
- Benylin Pediatric Syrup
- Benylin Syrup w/Codeine
- Caladryl
- Caldyphen Lotion
- Children's Complete Allergy
- Complete Allergy Medication
- Compoz
- Dermarest
- Di-Delamine
- Dihydrex
- Diphendryl
- Diphenhist
- Dormarex 2
- Ergodryl
- Excedrin P.M
- Extra Strength Tylenol PM
- Gecil
- Genahist
- Gen-D-Phen
- Hydramine
- Insomnal
- Kolex
- Mandrax
- Maxiumum Strength Nytol
- Medi-Phedryl
- Midol-PM
- Nervine Nighttime Sleep
- Nidryl Elixir
- Nighttime Cold Medicine
- Nite-Time
- Noradryl
- Noradryl 25
- Nytol
- Pain Relief PM
- Pathadryl
- PMS-Diphenhydramine
- Sinutab Maxiumu Strength
- SK-Diphenhydramine
- Sleep
- Sleep-Eze D
- Sleep-Eze 3
- Sominex
- Sominex 2
- Theraflu Cold Medicine (Nighttime Strength
- Twilite
- Tylenol PM Extra STrength
- Unisom Sleepgels
- Valdrene
- Valu-Dryl Allergy Medicine
- Wal-Ben
- Wal-Dryl
- Wehydryl
- Brompheniramine, Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan
- AccuHist DM Pediatric Drops
- AccuHist PDX Drops
- Anaplax DM
- Andehist DM NR
- Bromaline DM
- Bromaxefed DM RF
- Bromhist-DM
- Brotapp-DM
- Carbofed DM
- Dimaphen DM
- Dimetapp DM Children's Cold and Cough
- EndaCof-DM
- EndaCof-PD
- PediaHist DM
- Rondec-DM Syrup
- Carbetapentane and Chlorpheniramine
- Tannate 12 S
- Tannic-12 S
- Tannihist-12 RF
- Tussi-12 S
- Tussizone-12 RF
- Carbetapentane and Pseudoephedrine
- Respi-Tann
- Carbetapentane, Phenylephrine and Chlorpheniramine
- Carbaphen 12
- Carbaphen 12 Ped
- Xira Tuss
- Carbinoxamine, Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan
- Andehist DM NR Drops
- Carbaxefed DM RF
- Decahist-DM
- Pediatex-DM
- Rondec-DM Drops
- Slidec-DM
- Tussafed
- Chorpheniramine and Acetaminophen
- Coricidin HBP Cold and Flu
- Chlorpheniramine and Pseudoephedrine
- Allerest Maximum Strength Allergy and Hay Fever
- A.R.M
- Chlor-Trimeton Allergy
- C-Phed Tannate
- Deconamine
- Deconamine SR
- Histade
- Histex
- Kronofed-A
- Kronofed-A Jr
- LoHist-D
- PediaCare Codl and Allergy
- Rescon-Jr
- Sudafed Sinus & Allergy
- Sudal 12
- Triaminic Cold and Allergy
- Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine and Dextromethorphan
- Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold and Cough
- Coldtuss DR
- Corfen DM
- De-Chlor DM
- De-Chlor DR
- Dex PC
- Tri-Vent DPC
- Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine and Phenyltoloxamine
- Comhist
- Nalex-A
- Pediacof
- Chlorpheniramine, Phenylephrine, Codeine and Potassium Iodide
- Chlorpheniramine, Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan
- Kidkare Cough and Cold
- PediaCare Multi-Symptom
- Robitussin Pediatric Night Relief
- Tanafed DMX
- Triaminic Cold and Cough
- Triaminic Night Time Cough and Cold
- Vicks Children's NyQuil
- Vicks Pediatric 44m
- Loratadine and Pseudoephedrine
- Alavert Allergy and Sinus
- Claritin-D 12-Hour
- Claritin-D 24-Hour
- Chlor-Tripolon ND
- Claritin Extra
- Claritin Liberator
- Phenylephrine and Pyrilamine
- Pyrilafen Tannate
- Viravan
- Phenylephrine, Hydrocodone and Chlorpheniramine
- Cytuss HC
- Endagen-HD
- Histinex HC
- Hydron CP
- Hydro-PC
- Maxi-Tuss HC
- Maxi-Tuss HCX
- Pancof-PD
- Vanex-HD
- Z-Cof HC
- Phenylephrine, Pyrilamine and Dextromethorphan
- Codal-DM
- Codimal DM
- Codituss DM
- Viravan-DM
- Promethazine and Dextromethorphan
- Promatussin DM
- Promethazine and Phenylephrine
- Phenergan VC
- Promethazine VC
- Promethazine VC Plain
- Pseudoephedrine
- Biofed
- Decofed
- Dimetapp 12-hour Non-Drowsy Extentabs
- Dimetapp Decongestant
- Genaphed
- Kidkare Decongestant
- Kodet SE
- Oranyl
- PediaCare Decongestant Infants
- Silfedrine Children's
- Sudafed
- Sudafed 12 Hour
- Sudafed 24 Hour
- Sudafed Children's
- Sudodrin
- Triaminic Allergy Congestion
- Balminil Decongestant
- Contac Cold 12 Hour Relief Non Drowsy
- Drixoral ND
- Eltor
- PMS-Pseudoephedrine
- Pseudofrin
- Robidrine
- Sudafed Decongestant
- Lertamine-D
- Pseudoephedrine and Dextromethorphan
- Children's Sudafed Cough & Cold
- Pediacare Decongestant Plus Cough
- Pediacare Long Acting Cough Plus Cold
- Robitussin Maximum Strength Cough & Cold
- Robitussin Pediatric Cough & Cold
- Vicks 44D Cough & Head Congestion
- Balminil DM D
- Benylin DM-D
- Koffex DM-D
- Novahistex DM Decongestant
- Novahistine DM Decongestant
- Robitussin Children's Cough & Cold
- Pseudoephedrine, Hydrocodone and Chlorpheniramine
- Histinex PV
- Hydron PSC
- Hydro-Tussin HC
- Hyphed
- Pediatex HC
- P-V-Tussin Syrup
- Tussend Syrup
- Tussend Tablet
- Sodium Ascorbate
- Cenolate
- Altamist
- Ayr Baby Saline
- Ayr Saline
- Ayr Saline Mist
- Breath Right Saline
- Broncho Saline
- Entsol
- Muro 128NaSal
- Nasal Moist
- Na-Zone
- Ocean
- Pediamist
- SeaMist
- Triprolidine and Pseudoephedrine
- Actifed Cold and Allergy
- Allerfrim
- Allerphed
- Aphedrid
- Aprodine
- Genac
- Silafed
- Tri-Sudo
- Uni-Fed
- Actifed
- Echinacea
- Chamomile
Latest treatments for Common cold:
The following are some of the latest treatments for Common cold:
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Medical news summaries about treatments for Common cold:
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Discussion of treatments for Common cold:
Only symptomatic treatment is available for
uncomplicated cases of the common cold: bed rest, plenty of fluids,
gargling with warm salt water, petroleum jelly for a raw nose, and aspirin
or acetaminophen to relieve headache or fever.
A word of
caution: several studies have linked the use of aspirin to the
development of
Reye's syndrome in children recovering
from influenza or chickenpox. Reye's syndrome is a rare but serious
illness that usually occurs in children between the ages of three and 12
years. It can affect all organs of the body, but most often injures the
brain and liver. While most children who survive an episode of Reye's
syndrome do not suffer any lasting consequences, the illness can lead to
permanent brain damage or death. The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends children and teenagers not be given aspirin or any medications
containing aspirin when they have any viral illness, particularly
chickenpox or influenza. Many doctors recommend these medications be used
for colds in adults only when headache or fever is present. Researchers,
however, have found that aspirin and acetaminophen can suppress certain
immune responses and increase nasal stuffiness in
adults.
Nonprescription cold remedies, including decongestants and
cough suppressants, may relieve some cold symptoms but will not prevent,
cure, or even shorten the duration of illness. Moreover, most have some
side effects, such as drowsiness, dizziness, insomnia, or upset stomach,
and should be taken with care.
Nonprescription antihistamines may
have some effect in relieving inflammatory responses such as runny nose
and watery eyes that are commonly associated with
colds.
Antibiotics do not kill viruses. These prescription drugs
should be used only for rare bacterial complications, such as sinusitis or
ear infections, that can develop as secondary infections. The use of
antibiotics "just in case" will not prevent secondary bacterial
infections.
Does vitamin C have a role? Many people are
convinced that taking large quantities of vitamin C will prevent colds or
relieve symptoms. To test this theory, several large-scale, controlled
studies involving children and adults have been conducted. To date, no
conclusive data has shown that large doses of vitamin C prevent colds. The
vitamin may reduce the severity or duration of symptoms, but there is no
definitive evidence.
Taking vitamin C over long periods of time in
large amounts may be harmful. Too much vitamin C can cause severe
diarrhea, a particular danger for elderly people and small children. In
addition, too much vitamin C distorts results of tests commonly used to
measure the amount of glucose in urine and blood. Combining oral
anticoagulant drugs and excessive amounts of vitamin C can produce
abnormal results in blood-clotting tests.
Inhaling steam also has
been proposed as a treatment of colds on the assumption that increasing
the temperature inside the nose inhibits rhinovirus replication. Recent
studies found that this approach had no effect on the symptoms or amount
of viral shedding in individuals with rhinovirus colds. But steam may
temporarily relieve symptoms of congestion associated with
colds.
Interferon-alpha has been studied extensively for the
treatment of the common cold. Investigators have shown interferon, given
in daily doses by nasal spray, can prevent infection and illness.
Interferon, however, causes unacceptable side effects such as nosebleeds
and does not appear useful in treating established colds. Most cold
researchers are concentrating on other approaches to combatting cold
viruses.
(Source: excerpt from
The Common Cold, NIAID Fact Sheet: NIAID)
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