Therapy

Since a viral cold usually subsides after 1-2 weeks, the therapy is based on fighting the symptoms. The aim is to create the greatest possible freedom from symptoms. Since the body can fight the cold viruses very well by itself, usually no medication is prescribed.

Painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol can relieve symptoms such as headaches or aching limbs, but do not combat their cause. In severe cases, however, these can of course be taken without any problems. According to the latest findings, paracetamol is also suitable for use during pregnancy.

Furthermore, the body needs rest and warmth, and should be kept away from further sources of infection. The bed is particularly suitable for this purpose. From time to time, however, there should be shock ventilation to reduce the number of pathogens in the air.

Since the body loses fluid in the long term when coughing and sniffing, care should be taken to ensure a sufficient fluid intake (at least 2 liters daily), e.g. in the form of warm tea.Nasal sprays can also be applied in the case of severely congested noses. However, these should not be used for longer than a week, as they cause the nasal mucosa to swell, but also dry it out at the same time. Many patients come to the doctor with a viral cold, and would like to be prescribed antibiotics, as they believe that they help quickly against colds.

However, antibiotics only have an effect on bacterial diseases, but not on viral ones. Since it concerns with a usual cold almost exclusively a viral-conditioned illness, antibiotics show here thus no effect. Only if a superinfection with bacterial colonization of the viral pathogen foci occurs, antibiotics are useful and even urgently necessary.

However, these symptoms manifest themselves differently and much more severely than with a viral cold. Apart from that, antibiotics should be used sparingly, since the bacterial pathogens naturally also get used to the antibiotics and develop defense mechanisms. So it can come to the fact that certain antibiotics in the long run no more effect show and on other antibiotics must be yielded – their number is however naturally limited.

Antibiotics are agents that are intended to prevent the growth of bacteria or kill bacteria. Viruses, on the other hand, have a different cell structure, have different capsule components and need a so-called host in order to multiply and survive. Antibiotics cannot help against viral diseases, because the structures against which the antibiotic is directed are not present in viruses and therefore cannot be killed by the antibiotic.

The antibiotic can even still help the virus by killing bacteria, which in turn cause a braking of the virus propagation. In orthodox medicine, so-called antivirals are used for the treatment of virally caused diseases. These have the same effect as antibiotics, but are directed against viral pathogens.

For example, they can hinder the reproduction of viral DNA or destroy proteins of the virus envelope, so that the viruses die. However, antivirals are only indicated for acute and severe colds and especially for risk groups (immunocompromised persons, children, senior citizens). Normally one trusts that the body’s own immune system can fight the viruses well enough and treats only the symptoms such as headaches, coughs, etc.

Zinc is a relatively conservative method of treating a viral cold. Zinc serves as an enzyme regulator – especially for enzymes of the immune system. These enzymes become more active and are supposed to promote the healing process.

Zinc can be taken either in the form of lozenges or capsules. But also food with increased zinc content can be consumed – if the appetite allows it. Studies could show that people, who took increased zinc to itself were on the average shorter ill than other study participants.