The common cold is a disease that everyone knows. For the first time a person is faced with this problem in childhood. Symptoms of pathology are known to everyone. A cold is a group of acute respiratory infections, the symptoms of which can be completely diverse. How long does the incubation period for SARS last and how to alleviate the course of the disease?
What is a cold
The common cold is an infectious disease caused by viruses. It affects the upper respiratory tract and mucous membranes. Basically, a cold means ARVI, sometimes ARI.
The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, and contact infection is also possible. Therefore, experts advise being with the sick in the same room as little time as possible. In the case when it is not possible to avoid contact with the patient, it is worth treating the room several times a day with disinfectants and using gauze dressings, which are preferably changed every two hours.
According to statistics, a preschooler can get colds up to six times a year, a schoolchild up to four, an adult up to three times.
The first signs of a cold
Like any other disease, a cold can be identified by the first symptoms. Fatigue, general weakness, runny nose, headaches, muscle pain, dry or wet cough (mostly dry) are the first signs of pathology.
The disease manifests itself gradually. Minor and inconspicuous symptoms initially increase and intensify rather quickly, the body temperature rises, the patient tends to sleep.
Causes of pathology
The causes of pathology can be varied. The incubation period in colds is also varied.
The following viruses are the most common causative agents of the common cold:
- flu virus;
- parainfluenza virus;
- enterovirus;
- adenovirus;
- reovirus;
- rhinovirus;
- respiratory syncytial virus.
Infection is facilitated by weakened immunity and the entry of the virus into the human body.
Weakening of the immune system is provoked by severe stresses for the body, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, and constant overwork.
Scientists have proved that the psychological stress suffered by a person greatly weakens the human body and leads to quite serious illnesses. Improper nutrition or eating disorders also reduce immunity and make the body unstable to various infections. Reduces the body's resistance to the disease and constant processing, heavy physical exertion and lack of sleep.
A cold is a very contagious pathology, it is easily transmitted from one person to another when the pathogen enters the mucous membrane. A small number of pathogens are sufficient for infection.
Source of infection
Most often, the source of infection is an infected person, or the virus itself (mainly adenovirus), as well as bacteria (staphylococcus, pneumococcus, hemophilic bacillus).
The incubation period of a cold lasts no more than 1-2 days. The manifestation of the disease the day after infection is possible. The patient is most dangerous to others in the first two days after the onset of symptoms. The pathology can last from two days to one week.
Types of infection
You can catch a cold in two ways:
- Bacterial infection.
- Infectious infection.
Bacterial infection occurs due to bacteria entering the human body. Bacteria are everywhere and everywhere. A bacterial infection enters the human body as a result of a weakened immune system. Infection can occur from bacteria that were previously completely safe. Therefore, bacterial infection is possible not only from person to person, but also from the environment.
Viral infection can occur only after contact with a sick person. Such an infection is transmitted only from person to person.
The incubation period of a cold lasts no more than two days.
Common cold in adults
The common cold in adults is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- general malaise;
- body aches;
- muscle pain
- fever;
- runny nose;
- cough;
- a sore throat;
- redness of the throat;
- headache;
- chills, followed by severe sweating;
- decreased appetite;
- headache;
- insomnia;
- swollen lymph nodes.
During a cold infection, the performance of the glands that are responsible for the separation of mucus is impaired. As a result, the mucus begins to stagnate in the sinuses, and its amount increases. The body thus fights the infection, getting rid of it.
Any catarrhal disease is accompanied by a severe runny nose.
The incubation period of a cold in adults lasts no more than two days, but most often the infection makes itself felt almost immediately after ingestion.
The disease weakens two to three days after the onset of symptoms. An infected person can already get out of bed and feels much better. But for a full recovery, a week should pass after infection. Of course, the speed of recovery directly depends on the methods of treatment.
Detailed symptoms
Many people confuse various diseases with a common cold. To avoid a fatal error, you need to consider the symptoms of a cold in more detail.
- Intoxication of the body. The symptom is due to the penetration of the causative agent of infection into the body tissues or due to the body's struggle with the virus. Intoxication manifests itself in the form of dizziness, headaches, sleep disturbances, nausea, general weakness.
- Elevated body temperature. Body temperature is a clear sign of a cold. It can range from 37 to 40 ° C. Such fluctuations may depend on the body's immunity. In some situations, high temperature rises in the first hours after infection, in others, on the contrary, it is practically absent.
- The appearance of a cold. This is the very first and main sign of a cold. In the first day after infection, an abundant separation of liquid transparent secretion begins. A runny nose makes it possible to distinguish a cold from other similar, but more serious diseases. If the secret ceases to separate, stagnates in the sinuses, pains appear in the nasal region, then this indicates the development of sinusitis or frontal sinusitis. These are severe pathologies in which antibiotics are necessary.
- Headache. This symptom also indicates a catarrhal infection. The pain may increase during an increase in body temperature. Severe headaches can indicate the appearance of sinusitis.
- A sore throat. Pain in the throat can be of varying degrees of severity. They range from a little tingling to the inability to swallow food.
- Cough. The appearance of cough is not the primary sign of the disease. It appears after an increase in body temperature, runny nose and sore throat.
When to see a doctor
There are several reasons that indicate that urgent medical attention is needed. It should be understood that the incubation period of the common cold does not differ by age. It is the same for everyone. Nevertheless, it is worth highlighting the risk group.
- The patient's age is above 65 years. It is worth remembering that the incubation period of SARS in adults is two days. Despite this, when an elderly person has the first symptoms of a cold, it’s worth the alarm, because immunity is weakened.
- The patient's age is less than 3 years. The incubation period of SARS in children also lasts two days. Immunity in children under the age of three has not yet been formed. He is not strong. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to small cold children.
- Strong headache.
- Elevated body temperature, which can not be brought down for three days.
- The appearance of a strong barking cough, discoloration of mucus from the nose and sputum.
- Severe chest pain.
- Patients with concomitant pathologies (liver failure, renal failure, hematology, oncology);
- Patients with chronic bronchitis, sinusitis, etc.
Possible complications
Although the common cold is a mild illness, complications are still possible.
- Sinusitis, sinusitis, frontal sinusitis may be the result of a cold. They occur with inflammation of the sinuses. There is nasal congestion, which does not go away, but only intensifies, headaches, pain in the sinuses, nasal voice.
- Otitis. Pathology manifests itself with severe pain in one or both ears. This means that the infection has affected the ear cavity.
- Bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis.
- Lymphadenitis (infection of the lymph nodes).
Despite the fact that the incubation period of the SARS virus is short, and the course of the disease does not last long, complications from the common cold can be quite serious.
Diagnosis of the disease
Diagnosis of the disease is quite simple. After the incubation period of a cold in adults is over, it is worthwhile to see a therapist who can diagnose a cold at the initial examination. Additional tests are not prescribed, since the pathology is easily determined.
Additional examinations can be prescribed only in cases where there is a suspicion of the presence of concomitant diseases.
Treatment
Cold treatment is carried out at home. Therapy does not require a patient to be hospitalized. Since the incubation period of influenza and SARS in adults is only two days, you can determine the presence of infection on your own.
The following measures are usually taken for treatment:
- Bed rest. During sleep, the body gains strength to fight the infection.
- Compliance with the drinking regime. The patient needs to use as much fluid as possible, including drinking water.
- Refusal of increased physical exertion.
- Eating soft foods and broths. Refusal of alcohol, fried, spicy and salty foods.
It is worth remembering that the temperature can only be brought down when it has reached 38 ° C. Otherwise, the body will cease to fight the infection on its own.
Cold medications
There are many drugs for treating colds. Since the incubation period in influenza and acute respiratory viral infections is short enough, everyone can recognize the disease on their own and begin treatment at home. Pharmacies, in turn, offer the following drugs: Arbidol, Anaferon, Ingavirin, Amizon, Kagocel, Rimantadine, etc.
Antipyretic drugs can be in the form of a powder or tablets:
- Powdered preparations: "Teraflu", "Rinzasip", "Coldrex", "Fervex" and others.
- Antipyretic tablets: Ibuprofen, Nurofen, etc.
With severe nasal congestion, the following drugs can be used: Nazol, Nazivin, Nazol Advance, Tizin, Pinosol, Aquamaris, Aqualor, etc.
It is worth remembering that the use of drops from a cold should last no more than seven days. Otherwise, the nasal mucosa atrophies, and the drugs cease to act.
Folk treatments for colds
There are many methods of treating colds, which are almost always used in combination with the main treatment.
- Foot baths with mustard. A few tablespoons of dry mustard are dissolved in warm water and feet soar for 15-20 minutes. Such procedures are best done before bedtime.
- One teaspoon of dandelion root is brewed with a glass of boiling water and insisted for 20 minutes. Then they are divided into several portions and taken throughout the day.
- Freshly squeezed carrot juice is mixed with gruel from 5 cloves of garlic, divided into equal portions and taken throughout the day.
- Aloe juice is instilled into the nose 5 times a day in a few drops, this helps to get rid of a cold.
- Linden tea relieves sore throat.
- A decoction of viburnum berries has a unique therapeutic effect. A few tablespoons of the berries are boiled and drunk in the form of compote throughout the day.
Cold Prevention
In order not to become infected during the period of influenza and SARS, the following rules should be observed:
- Do not visit crowded places;
- use gauze dressings;
- refuse contact with the patient;
- take antiviral drugs as a preventative measure;
- eat foods that contain a high concentration of vitamins, especially vitamin C.
It should be understood that neglect of precautions will lead to colds. Conversely, following all the rules will greatly reduce the risk of contracting an infection.
A cold is a disease caused by various infections, viruses or bacteria. Every person came across him. The incubation period of a cold is 1-2 days, so the disease is difficult to confuse with other pathologies. Treatment of infection is quite simple, you just have to follow the rules known to everyone since childhood: bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking medications on time. Many parents wonder how long the incubation period of a cold in children lasts. It is the same for everyone. Only children should pay more attention during illness, since their immunity is often weakened. To avoid infection during colds and flu, you should use antiviral drugs and observe basic precautions.