Therapy of a cold

Rhinitis, cold, chill, sniffles, flu The general principles of treatment for a cold are fluid intake (especially tea or tea for colds and water) and rest. The patient can be advised to stay in bed and take it easy on the days with the highest disease severity. Since a large part of the water is lost in colds, special attention should be paid to fluid intake, which should be 2-3 liters a day.

In case of hlas pain Locastad® can be taken as a lozenge. In order to restore the patency of the nose and allow the nasal mucous membranes to subside, inhalative steam baths should be taken several times a day. To do this, the patient should bring either a household remedy such as chamomile or salt to the boil in a pot filled with water and then inhale for 10-15 minutes with the head bent closely over it.

In the past, camomile steam baths were mainly recommended, but today we tend to switch to salt steam baths, as camomile is said to have a drying effect. In addition to the decongestant effect on the mucous membranes, the steam bath should also help to avoid nasal sinusitis. The same effect should also be achieved by red light irradiation, which most patients with a cold find pleasant and should also be carried out several times a day.

The gargling of lukewarm salt water can be used to relieve sore throats, and nasal sprays to reduce swelling of the mucous membranes can be used to improve breathing. However, these drugs should only be used for a few days, as prolonged use can lead to the “stinky nose” syndrome. This syndrome is based on an inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane caused by nasal sprays.

Other symptoms such as headaches and fever can be relieved with e.g. ibuprofen, paracetamol and ASA. If a bacterial superinfection occurs (bacteria settle on the already existing viral infection), the use of antibiotic-containing medication is usually necessary. Many doctors also give antibiotics at the first signs of a cold to prevent a bacterial superinfection.

Due to the possible development of resistance, however, one should refrain from an early administration of antibiotics. Would you like to know more about a bacterial superinfection? If the symptoms persist for longer than 1-2 weeks, if the general condition worsens despite the above measures, or if there are clear signs of a bacterial infection (e.g. very high fever, yellow mucus in the sputum), you should consult a doctor and possibly start treatment with antibiotics.

Even if the patient has an existing basic disease that weakens the immune system (e.g. HIV, diabetes mellitus or chemotherapeutic measures), antibiotic treatment should be started immediately, as it can be assumed that the weakened body of the patient will not be able to fight the virus successfully. Abstaining from antibiotics in these cases increases the risk of life-threatening and even fatal courses of the virus. As an alternative to the classical treatments, some people also try to treat a cold with homeopathic medicines.

If the symptoms persist for longer than 1-2 weeks, if the general condition worsens despite the above measures, or if there are clear signs of a bacterial infection (e.g. very high fever, yellow mucus in the sputum), one should consult a doctor and possibly start a therapy with antibiotics. Even if the patient has an existing basic disease that weakens the immune system (e.g. HIV, diabetes mellitus or chemotherapeutic measures), antibiotic treatment should be started immediately, as it can be assumed that the weakened body of the patient will not be able to fight the virus successfully. Abstaining from antibiotics in these cases increases the risk of life-threatening and even fatal courses of the virus.

As an alternative to the classical treatments, some people also try to treat a cold with homeopathic medicines. Even if the patient has an existing immune system weakening basic disease (e.g. HIV, diabetes mellitus or chemotherapeutic measures), antibiotic treatment should be started immediately, as it can be assumed that the weakened body of the patient will not be able to fight the virus successfully.Abstaining from antibiotics in these cases increases the risk of life-threatening and even fatal processes. As an alternative to the classical treatments, some people also try to treat a cold with homeopathic medicines.