How to Stop a Cold

The common cold, a ubiquitous viral infection, typically manifests with an array of self-limiting symptoms, yet it poses a considerable burden on public health through lost productivity and healthcare expenditures (Driel et al., 2018).

Characterized by symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, malaise, sore throat, and fever, this upper respiratory tract infection, while generally benign, significantly impacts quality of life, mood, and daily activities (Išerić & Verster, 2024; Montesinos‐Guevara et al., 2022).

Given the broad spectrum of causative agents, developing a universal vaccine has proven challenging, leading to a primary focus on symptomatic relief rather than curative treatments (Montesinos‐Guevara et al., 2022).

The Common Cold: Etiology and Pathophysiology

Understanding the etiological agents and their pathogenic mechanisms is crucial for developing effective preventative strategies and targeted interventions. Acute upper respiratory tract infections, commonly known as colds, are primarily caused by various viruses, with rhinoviruses being the most frequent culprits (Wang et al., 2021).

These viruses infiltrate the host’s respiratory epithelial cells, initiating an inflammatory cascade that leads to characteristic symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and pharyngitis. While generally benign, severe cases can escalate to serious complications, necessitating hospitalization or even leading to mortality in susceptible individuals (Mammari et al., 2023).

Effective management strategies for acute upper respiratory tract infections focus on symptom alleviation and preventing viral transmission, with early intervention proving most effective in reducing symptom severity and viral spread (Wang et al., 2021).

Preventative Strategies for the Common Cold

Rigorous hand hygiene, particularly with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizers, significantly reduces the transmission of cold viruses (Smith et al., 2023).

Specific micronutrients, such as zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D, have demonstrated roles in modulating immune function and may contribute to the prevention or amelioration of cold symptoms (Rondanelli et al., 2018).

Factors such as adequate sleep, regular physical activity, and stress management are critical in maintaining robust immune function, thereby influencing an individual’s susceptibility to the common cold and its duration (Išerić & Verster, 2024).

Early Intervention Approaches to Abort Cold Progression

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistamines can also be employed to manage pain, fever, and allergic-like symptoms, respectively, often reducing the overall inflammatory response initiated by viral infections (Turner, 1997).

Beyond pharmacological options, a range of non-pharmacological interventions, including herbal remedies and nutritional supplements, are frequently utilized by individuals seeking to alleviate cold symptoms, though their efficacy often varies and warrants further rigorous scientific investigation (Mammari et al., 2023).

Newer therapeutic approaches are investigating compounds like carrageenan, which has shown promise in laboratory studies against various respiratory viruses, including rhinoviruses, and could potentially shorten the duration of cold symptoms (Hemilä & Chalker, 2021).

References
Driel, M. L. van, Scheire, S., Deckx, L., Gevaert, P., & Sutter, A. D. (2018). What treatments are effective for common cold in adults and children? BMJ. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k3786
Hemilä, H., & Chalker, E. (2021). Carrageenan nasal spray may double the rate of recovery from coronavirus and influenza virus infections: Re‐analysis of randomized trial data. Pharmacology Research & Perspectives, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.810
Išerić, E., & Verster, J. C. (2024). The common cold: The need for an effective treatment amid the FDA discussion on oral phenylephrine. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology Global, 3(4), 100318. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacig.2024.100318
Mammari, N., Albert, Q., Devocelle, M., Kenda, M., Glavač, N. K., Dolenc, M. S., Mercolini, L., Tóth, J., Milan, N., Czigle, S., & Varbanov, M. (2023). Natural Products for the Prevention and Treatment of Common Cold and Viral Respiratory Infections. Pharmaceuticals, 16(5), 662. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16050662
Montesinos‐Guevara, C., Buitrago‐García, D., Felix, M. L., Guerra, C. V., Hidalgo, R., Martínez‐Zapata, M. J., & Simancas‐Racines, D. (2022). Vaccines for the common cold. Cochrane Library, 2022(12). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd002190.pub6
Rondanelli, M., Miccono, A., Lamburghini, S., Avanzato, I., Riva, A., Allegrini, P., Faliva, M. A., Peroni, G., Nichetti, M., & Perna, S. (2018). Self‐Care for Common Colds: The Pivotal Role of Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea in Three Main Immune Interactive Clusters (Physical Barriers, Innate and Adaptive Immunity) Involved during an Episode of Common Colds—Practical Advice on Dosages and on the Time to Take These Nutrients/Botanicals in order to Prevent or Treat Common Colds. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/5813095
Smith, A. C., Kardos, P., Pfaar, O., Randerath, W., Riolobos, G. E., Braido, F., & Sadofsky, L. R. (2023). The treatment of mild upper respiratory tract infections – a position paper with recommendations for best practice. Drugs in Context, 12, 1. https://doi.org/10.7573/dic.2023-4-2
Turner, R. B. (1997). Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Treatment of the Common Cold. Annals of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, 78(6), 531. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1081-1206(10)63213-9
Wang, D. Y., Eccles, R., Bell, J., Chua, A. H., Salvi, S., Schellack, N., Marks, P., & Wong, Y. C. (2021). Management of acute upper respiratory tract infection: the role of early intervention. Expert Review of Respiratory Medicine, 15(12), 1517. https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2021.1988569