The common cold is caused by more than 200 viruses and is very contagious. It is estimated that 30 million people in the U.S. have a cold at any given time. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild fever. Colds usually last 3-7 days but the cough can persist for weeks. Prevention methods include hand washing, avoiding contact with sick people, exercise, and rest. Self-care like fluids, pain relievers, salt water, and vaporizers usually treat colds as antibiotics do not work on viruses.
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The common cold is caused by more than 200 viruses and is very contagious. It is estimated that 30 million people in the U.S. have a cold at any given time. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild fever. Colds usually last 3-7 days but the cough can persist for weeks. Prevention methods include hand washing, avoiding contact with sick people, exercise, and rest. Self-care like fluids, pain relievers, salt water, and vaporizers usually treat colds as antibiotics do not work on viruses.
The common cold is caused by more than 200 viruses and is very contagious. It is estimated that 30 million people in the U.S. have a cold at any given time. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild fever. Colds usually last 3-7 days but the cough can persist for weeks. Prevention methods include hand washing, avoiding contact with sick people, exercise, and rest. Self-care like fluids, pain relievers, salt water, and vaporizers usually treat colds as antibiotics do not work on viruses.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
The common cold is caused by more than 200 viruses and is very contagious. It is estimated that 30 million people in the U.S. have a cold at any given time. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, cough, and mild fever. Colds usually last 3-7 days but the cough can persist for weeks. Prevention methods include hand washing, avoiding contact with sick people, exercise, and rest. Self-care like fluids, pain relievers, salt water, and vaporizers usually treat colds as antibiotics do not work on viruses.
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COMMON COLDS
Michael Angelo B. Sea
Common Cold While you are reading this information, about 30 million people in the U.S. have the common cold. Colds are caused by more than 200 different cold viruses. They are very contagious. The average person gets 3 to 4 colds a year.
Prevention Wash your hands often. Keep them away from your nose, eyes, and mouth. Try not to touch people or their things when they have a cold. Get regular exercise. Eat and sleep well. Use a tissue when you sneeze, cough, or blow your nose. Use a cool-mist vaporizer in your bedroom in the winter.
Signs & Symptoms
Runny, stuffy nose, and sneezing Sore throat Dry cough Mild fever, if any A cold usually lasts 3 to 7 days. In older persons, though, a cold can last longer. The cough that comes with a cold can last a few weeks after the other symptoms go away.
Causes & Care
You can get a cold virus from mucus on a persons hands when they have a cold, such as through a handshake. You can also pick up the viruses on towels, telephones, money, etc. Cold viruses travel through coughs and sneezes, too. Selfcare usually treats a cold. Antibiotics do not treat cold viruses. Persons with some health conditions, such as asthma, should consult their doctors for advice to manage symptoms.
Self-Care Drink lots of liquids. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Note: Do not give aspirin to anyone under age 19. Aspirin and other medicines with salicylates have been linked to Reyes Syndrome. For nasal congestion, use salt water drops, such as Ocean brand or a saline nasal spray. Use a cool-mist vaporizer to add moisture to the air. Have chicken soup to clear mucus. Check with your doctor about using zinc lozenges, echinacea, and/or high doses of vitamin C.
