Diagnosis | Cold viruses

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is usually made clinically based on the symptoms. Pathogen detection is usually not carried out because it is too expensive, too complex and not necessary for therapy. The exception is chronic infections that have been going on for months.

Cause of a cold

Causes of viral colds are a series of about 200 different viruses. The most common triggers are, in descending order, the human rhinovirus, the corona viruses, and the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). In order to be able to imagine more of these, the term “virus” must be explained in more detail.

Viruses are – and this is what distinguishes them from bacteria – small biochemical particles that cannot survive without a host. They do not have their own metabolism and are not able to reproduce on their own. Their survival therefore depends on finding a suitable organism, multiplying there as quickly as possible and staying there as long as possible.

However, as soon as the human immune system becomes aware of the viruses, they have to find a new host. Experts do not refer to viruses as “living beings” in the true sense of the word. Cold viruses were usually named after their place of discovery or their first descriptor, so one should not be confused by the sometimes cryptic names.

All cold viruses have in common that they are more or less well adapted to the epithelium of the throat and bronchial wall. Since there are naturally many defense mechanisms of the human immune system, especially at entry points into the body, these areas of the body are particularly well “monitored”. Therefore, the cold viruses must act quickly and multiply as much as possible in the shortest possible time before the immune system can react.

If a cold is caused by a virus, 40% of cases are rhinoviruses, 10-25% coronaviruses, and 10-15% RS viruses. The individual mechanisms of action are actually irrelevant for the patient, but they have in common that the epithelium of the pharynx and bronchial wall is attacked.