Myths Surrounding the Common "Cold"

by Steve Sainsbury, MD

Jon and Matt, your three-year old twins have just started daycare. They are excited to interact daily with a new group of playmates, and you welcome the brief respite for a few hours a day. However, within a week, the frosting comes off the cake as both boys develop a runny nose, slight fever, sneezing, and cough — their first "colds."

You spring into action.

First - No baths for the boys. Keep them bundled up and warm at all times. (Everyone knows that wet hair and the chill from bathing will only keep him or her sicker longer.)

Second - Give some baby aspirin for their fever and fussiness.

Third - Force-feed them. ("Starve a fever, feed a cold")

Finally - Phone the pediatrician and get them on antibiotics. And don't forget to fret as to why your children got colds in the first place. (What am I doing wrong?)

Stop! Take a deep breath.

If the above scenario sounds familiar, please re-think everything you believe you know about the common cold. Consider these myth-dispelling facts.

This illness is called the "common" cold for good reason. Children average about three to eight colds every year. Adults get about two to four episodes annually. That translates to over a billion colds in the United States every year. Don't think that you or your child are sickly or suffering from an immune deficiency simply because of frequent colds. Frequent colds in children and occassional colds in adults is normal.

Is there anything you can do to reduce the number of colds you or your child gets? Yes, there is.

* Choose a day-care setting with six or fewer children. This can significantly reduce a child's contact with cold germs.

* Wash your hands frequently, particularly after contact with body secretions - for example, after diaper changes, sneezing, wiping noses, and before and after eating.

* Avoid secondhand smoke. This is a definite risk factor for increased numbers of colds.

* Breastfeed. Breastfed children get fewer colds and ear infections than their formula-fed counterparts.

* Add yogurt and a zinc supplement during cold season. These items may help reduce the number of colds by boosting the immune system. But, lest I perpetuate another myth, know that the jury is still out on this one, but the yogurt and zinc can't do any harm.

Here are the basic facts.

Viruses cause colds. Over 200 varieties have been identified as the chief culprits. Colds are NOT caused by cold weather, nor from going out into the cold with wet hair, nor from walking on cold pavement with bare feet. The blame for catching a cold lays with your social contacts, as most of us catch colds from other people. For example, as a new strain is introduced into a day-care center or classroom or workplace, it travels quickly through most of the group. Once the symptoms of a cold begin, most people are contagious for the first few days of the illness.

There is no cure or sure-fire remedy for a common cold. Over-the-counter medicines, like cough syrup, decongestants, and anti-histamines can be helpful to lessen the symptoms, but they do not cure or lessen the duration of the illness.

Some of the treatment myths involve antibiotics, aspirin, diet.

Here's the truth about each.

Antibiotics

These have no value against the common cold. Remember most antibiotics fight bacteria, and are not useful in combating the myriad of viruses that cause a cold. By giving antibiotics unnecessarily, we run the risk of adverse reactions and allergies, along with creating antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, a real problem in our antibiotic age. Some doctors may cave in to your pleadings, but using antibiotics for the common cold does no good and can do actual harm.

Aspirin

No, no, no-- a thousand times no! Aspirin given to children with a viral illness can cause Reye's Syndrome, a rare but potentially very dangerous illness affecting the liver and brain. Acetaminophen is fine to help reduce the symptoms of a fever or achiness, but never give aspirin (salicylates) to a child with a cold.

Diet

The "feed a cold, starve a fever" adage is not based on known medical knowledge. Most sick people have poor appetites, and forcing them to eat will not make them better or heal faster. However, we should be urged to drink lots of fluids so as to not get dehydrated. Most any water-based drink will do, such as diluted juices, non-caffeinated sodas, Gatorade and other sports drinks, milk, and plain water. Egads! Milk?? Doesn't that cause more mucous and phlegm? Nope, it does not - milk is safe and healthy for children with colds.

Most colds start with a sore throat and progress to sneezing, congestion, nasal discharge mild fevers and coughing. Symptoms are generally mild, and last for up to a week. If you develop severe symptoms (coughing all the time, shortness of breath, vomiting, high fevers, rashes), or anything else that concerns you - by all means, get checked by your doctor. Otherwise, relax, and recognize that after every cold illness, we will probably develop immunity to that one of the 200 known cold viruses. Only 199 to go!

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Mountain Gorilla image on banner by Steve Sainsbury.
This particular one is Steve's favorite gorilla, a friend from one of his stays in Rwanda.