Synonyms in a broader sense
Medical: acute rhinitis (Rhinitis acuta); viral rhinitis; microbial rhinitis, coryza cold, inflammation of the nasal cavity
Frequency
An adult suffers from a cold about two to three times a year. In children, the incidence is even higher with four to eight colds. In total, a person goes through about 200 colds in his life.
About half of all colds are caused by rhinoviruses. The common cold (rhinitis), which we all experience at least once during one of the cold seasons, is a harmless infection caused by a virus. Mostly it is a virus from the group of rhinoviruses or adenoviruses.
A cold is a viral infection of the upper airways, including the nose and throat, caused by viruses. During the course of the cold, an inflammation of the mucous membranes (epithelium) develops, which stimulates secretion. This excretion of the secretion manifests itself together with other complaints as a rhinitis.
A distinction must be made between the common cold and the flu, which is often mistakenly referred to as the common cold. A flu (influenza) is triggered by influenza viruses and is much more severe than a cold. To distinguish it from a flu, the term “flu-like infection” is also common for a cold.
Causes
Cold viruses reach our nasal mucous membrane via small droplets (droplet infection). Either someone has sneezed or coughed on us directly or we have been infected via the damp, cold air. The term “cold” has its justification: When we freeze, there is a change in the blood flow in the nasal mucous membrane and the viruses have an easier time penetrating the mucous membrane. This leads to a viral infection (infection with viruses) of the nasal mucosa.
Symptoms
“A cold comes three days, stays three days and goes three days!” In the first few days the cold often starts with an unpleasant tickle in the nose, a scratching in the nasopharynx and an excessive urge to sneeze. After about three days, we need our handkerchief at hand regularly, because the nose “runs”, i.e. it gives off a watery secretion.
More and more we are “fed up” with our nose. The nasal mucosa swells and we can hardly breathe through our nose. Even our sense of smell (but not our sense of taste!)
lets us down. If our nasal breathing is hindered for a longer period of time, we get headaches, tears in our eyes and the secretion in our nose becomes tougher and mucous-purulent (yellowish greenish secretion). Towards the end of the rhinitis, we feel a dryness of the nasal mucous membrane and an even thicker secretion in the nose.
Some people, often children, also get a fever in the first few days and notice that they sweat a lot at night. More and more, we are “fed up” with our noses. The nasal mucosa swells and we can hardly breathe through our nose.
Also our sense of smell (but not our sense of taste!) lets us down. If our nasal breathing is hindered for a longer period of time, we get headaches, tears in our eyes and the secretion in our nose becomes tougher and mucous-purulent (yellowish greenish secretion).
Towards the end of the rhinitis, we feel a dryness of the nasal mucous membrane and an even thicker secretion in the nose. Some people, often children, also get a fever in the first few days and notice that they sweat a lot at night. The diagnosis of a cold is primarily made on the basis of the typical symptoms (“clinic”), which are recorded by taking the patient’s medical history (anamnesis) and physical examination.
Furthermore, if necessary, there is the possibility of detecting the pathogen causing the cold. There are different methods, which include virus isolation from smears (of the nose, throat), the detection of viral antigens or antibodies formed in the body. In addition, the genetic material of the pathogen can be identified by means of a PCR (polymerase chain reaction), thus enabling virus determination.
Alternatively, the virus can also be cultivated in a cell culture. However, these described methods for the detection of a rhinitis are not used for uncomplicated courses of a rhinitis due to the lack of therapeutic consequences. Complaints that at first glance resemble a cold can also have causes other than a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract.Possible symptoms are hay fever (allergic rhinitis), sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses) or discharge of cerebrospinal fluid (liquor; liquorrhoea).
In addition to the “rhinitis” with clear, viscous secretions, hay fever often involves itching of the eyes and nose, reddening of the eyes (conjunctivitis) and a blocked nose. Hay fever is triggered by pollen or grasses, if hypersensitivity to them already exists. Frequently, one finds further indications of an allergic susceptibility (disposition) in patients: positive family history (other affected persons in the family), dark shadows under the eyes or transverse furrows of the nose.
In the case of sinusitis, the affected person also complains of nasal congestion, which makes this disease similar to a cold. The secretion is mucopurulent. In addition, there are headaches, fever and pressure or pain over the paranasal sinuses.
Sinusitis, unlike rhinitis, is mostly caused by bacteria. Rarely, however, fungi or viruses are also the triggers of the clinical picture resembling a cold. As a further differential diagnosis of a cold, a leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (cerebrospinal fluid) occurs after a craniocerebral injury (craniocerebral trauma) or surgical intervention in the area of the head, whereby fistulas (non-natural connections) can form between the cerebrospinal fluid and the nasal cavity.
Through this newly formed connection, cerebrospinal fluid passes into the nose and drips outwards as a clear liquid. In contrast to cold secretion, cerebrospinal fluid contains little protein and a lot of sugar (glucose), so that it is possible to distinguish it from a cold by the composition of the secretions. An important difference in linguistic usage must be made between flu and rhinitis.
Flu (influenza), unlike the common cold, begins suddenly and violently with high fever, weakness, chills, exhaustion and coughing. These symptoms can be accompanied by muscle and limb pain. After recovery, a feeling of weakness often remains for a few weeks.
Unfortunately, there is no vaccination against a cold like the “real” flu (influenza). There are more than 200 known viruses that can cause a banal cold. In addition, these viruses are real quick-change artists, which makes it impossible to produce a vaccine.
Nevertheless, natural products and the pharmacy offer us useful aids. Nose drops or sprays with the ingredients xylometazoline (Otrivin®) or oxymetazoline (Nasivin®) help with a blocked nose. They help us to sleep through the night with a clear nose.
After one week, however, the nasal drops/sprays should be discontinued, as otherwise our nasal mucous membranes get used to the application and will not swell without it (privinism). The dry mucous membrane can be treated in parallel with nasal ointments (Bepanthen®) or nasal oils (Coldastop®). Inhalations with chamomile steam (Kamillosan®) or salt (Emser-Salz®) have an anti-inflammatory and also pleasant property.
After using decongestant nasal drops/spasms, nasal rinsing with a saline solution (Emser-Salz® solution) can cleanse the nose by rinsing out viscous secretions. The saline solution also has a disinfecting and decongesting effect. During a cold, the nasal mucous membrane produces enormous amounts of secretions and mucus.
The more liquid this secretion is, the easier it can flow off together with the pathogens. A sufficient fluid replacement (at least two liters a day) should therefore be provided. Hot and lightly sweetened teas (or sweetened with honey) have the property of being quickly absorbed by the body on the one hand, and on the other hand they stimulate the blood circulation of the nasopharyngeal mucosa through their heat.
The stronger this blood circulation is, the more defence cells are transported to the nasopharynx and can fight the pathogens. The herbal preparation Sinupret®, available in tablet, dragee or drop form (Sinupret® forte, Sinupret® Drops), also has a mucolytic and soothing effect. Since the common cold is a relatively harmless but often persistent and stressful illness, many people resort to homeopathic remedies for the treatment of the common cold.
However, there are many different causes of rhinitis, which should be treated differently. The strength of the cold, the consistency and color of the nasal secretion, and the effects on night sleep all play a role in the selection of a suitable homeopathic remedy.Homeopathy aims to activate the body’s own healing powers. The cause of the illness is to be treated, according to the principle ́ ́Ähnliches is to be cured by something similar ́ ́.
A homoeopathic remedy is also produced in certain preparation procedures, an important keyword is thereby the Potenzierung. The remedy is diluted with water, for example, and shaken in stages until in many cases the actual active ingredient is no longer detectable. The therapy says that the water adapts to the properties of the active ingredient ́ ́erinnert ́ ́, which is in contradiction with the current scientific state of knowledge and is often criticized.
However the Hom?opathie has a large following and particularly against harmless diseases such as a cold hom?opathische medicaments are bought each year for many millions euro in Germany. Homoeopathic medicines are only available in pharmacies and are not generally free of side effects. With some preparations (particularly those with a low potentiation) interactions with other medicines can occur if necessary or contraindications (e.g. pregnancy or certain age groups) must be considered.
Since in babies, children and pregnant women it is often not allowed to use chemical agents against the common cold, homoepathic remedies with few side effects are often considered for the treatment of the common cold. However, it should always be remembered that under certain conditions the homeopathic treatment of a cold is not appropriate or sufficient. In order to avoid serious consequences of the disease, it is important in these cases to use conventional medicine.
This may be the case with accompanying symptoms such as fever, rashes, insatiable nosebleeds or protracted progressions. Homeopathic treatment should also not be used for other causes of the cold that are not related to a cold (such as foreign bodies, tumors, injuries). Homeopathic treatment should also be avoided in the case of severe, chronic concomitant diseases or in the case of illnesses for which a health disadvantage could arise by not using other treatment methods. In the meantime, there are many homeopathic medicines that can be used for colds. You can find a list of all homeopathic medicines to be used under Homeopathy for colds