Talk to your doctor before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children. Learn more about symptom relief of upper respiratory infections, including colds. Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold caused by a respiratory virus. They do not work against viruses, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily.
Learn more about when antibiotics work. You should also call your doctor right away if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and get flu symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle or body aches. People at high risk for flu complications include young children younger than 5 years old , adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease.
Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold or the flu and can recommend treatment to help with symptoms. Many different respiratory viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common. Rhinoviruses can also trigger asthma attacks and have been linked to sinus and ear infections. Other viruses that can cause colds include respiratory syncytial virus , human parainfluenza viruses , adenovirus , common human coronaviruses , and human metapneumovirus.
The flu, which is caused by influenza viruses, also spreads and causes illness around the same time as the common cold. Read: Is It a Cold or the Flu? When can I go back to work or school? The contagious period for the flu can last as long as days from when you first felt sick.
An ounce of prevention. Tags: Expert Advice. Cold and Flu. Doctors say there are a few things you can do to keep the people around you from getting sick:. If you need to be around other people, Dr. Adalja suggests wearing your mask to help keep your germs to yourself. An at-home test should work fine, he says. Schaffner says.
Weight Loss. To relieve your symptoms faster, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral drug such as oseltamivir Tamiflu , peramivir Rapivab , zanamivir Relenza , or baloxavir Xofluza. Also, antiviral drugs can cause side effects such as nausea , vomiting, and diarrhea.
Also, call your doctor right away if you have any of the more serious flu symptoms, such as trouble breathing or dizziness.
Common colds are caused by many different viruses. These viruses spread through the air, just like influenza. Treat your cold by taking it easy. Drink water and other non-caffeinated fluids and get as much rest as you can. You can also take an OTC cold remedy.
Some of these drugs come in multi-symptom cold, cough, fever varieties. Decongestant nasal sprays relieve congestion.
However, if you use a certain type for more than three days, it could give you a rebound stuffed nose. Some of these drugs can also cause an increase in blood pressure or a rapid heartbeat. If you have high blood pressure , an irregular heart rhythm , or heart disease , talk to your doctor before you use a decongestant.
Antihistamines can also help clear up a stuffy nose, but older ones such as diphenhydramine Benadryl can make you sleepy. Colds are usually mild, but they can sometimes lead to complications such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Shop for nasal decongestant sprays. Your sneezing, sniffling nose, and watery eyes might not be contagious at all. If they happen at certain times of the year like spring and they stick around for a few weeks or months, you could have allergies.
Allergies can be triggered by irritants in your environment such as:. Shop for antihistamines. Most respiratory infections clear up within a few days.
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