What accelerates the process?
The course of a cold can only be influenced to a very small extent by your own measures. In particular against viral pathogens, which are mostly responsible for colds, no acceleration of the disease can be achieved with medication or household remedies. It is a misconception that antibiotics are supposed to help against colds, but this is only true if there is a bacterial infection or a superinfection.
Unfortunately, antibiotics cannot cause a normal viral cold. Some home remedies such as teas or inhalation can relieve the symptoms but do not accelerate the elimination of the pathogens by the immune system. A strong immune system is the most important factor to guarantee a fast course.
The immune system must recognize the pathogen quickly, produce many defence cells and fight against the rapidly multiplying germs. For this the body needs a lot of strength and energy.Learn more about this under: Inhalation for a cold
So the most important measure is to take sufficient care of yourself and give the immune system the necessary energy and time. For more information on how to shorten the duration of a cold, read here.
Some home remedies such as teas or inhalation can relieve the symptoms but do not accelerate the elimination of the pathogens by the immune system. A strong immune system is the most important factor to guarantee a fast course. The immune system must recognize the pathogen quickly, produce many defence cells and fight against the rapidly multiplying germs.
For this the body needs a lot of strength and energy. Learn more about this under: Inhalation in case of a cold The most important measure is therefore to take sufficient care of yourself and to give the immune system the necessary energy and time. For more information on how to shorten the duration of a cold, read here.
Bacterial superinfection
The bacterial superinfection is a complication of an otherwise harmless cold. Viral colds are much more common than bacterial ones. However, if the mucous membranes have already been damaged by a viral inflammation, bacteria can settle there more easily and cause an inflammation in turn.
Superinfection means, translated, that the pathogens attach themselves to the existing inflammation. Typically, the course and symptoms become more severe. The cough becomes stronger and slimier and the rhinitis tougher.
It is also typical that the mucus that is expelled by blowing the nose or a severe cough takes on a yellowish-green color. This indicates suppurating processes that are untypical of viral colds. In addition to the symptoms of the cold, the bacteria can cause inflammation of other areas.
Superinfection often results in tonsillitis, middle ear infection or even pneumonia. Most frequently, however, the most common result is a persistent and slimy sinusitis. The bacteria responsible for such superinfections are in most cases so-called “streptococci“.
