How to distinguish a cold from other diseases? The doctor tells you the symptoms and how to treat them

Head of the Center for Personalized Medicine, general practitioner, cardiologist

The common cold refers to various mild forms of respiratory diseases of the upper respiratory tract (nose, nasopharynx, mouth, throat and larynx).

First symptoms of a cold

In the international classification of diseases, there is no definition of a cold, so all patients who show signs of colds are diagnosed with ARI (acute respiratory infection) or ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection), as well as their subtypes – pharyngitis, tracheitis, rhinitis, rhinopharyngitis.

Colds are transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets, by contact with infected surfaces or through handshakes.

The first manifestations most often occur on the first or second day after infection with a virus or bacteria. The person is bothered by:

• headache;
• joint pain;
• myalgia (pain in muscles, ligaments, tendons);
• throat discomfort (fever, soreness, hoarseness of voice);
• sleep disturbance (drowsiness or insomnia);
• coughing, sneezing;
• runny nose and nasal congestion.

In the absence of negative provoking factors, the painful condition passes within six to seven days.

Among other symptoms, some patients note stool disorder and inflammation of cervical lymph nodes. Body temperature does not rise above 38°C, it is usually in the subfebrile range (37°C to 37.9°C). In children and adults, the cold runs with approximately the same symptoms, but children are slightly more likely to have gastrointestinal disorders.

How to distinguish cold symptoms from other diseases

The common cold is characterized by a mild course and not rapid development of symptoms. The areas affected, as a rule, are the nasopharynx and oropharynx, with complications occurring very rarely. The trigger for development is considered hypothermia, severe stress or any other circumstances that lead to a decrease in immunity.

The weaker the body’s defense functions, the more susceptible a person is to bacterial and viral infections, which means that the probability of infection increases. In addition, a man or woman with weak immune defenses needs a small number of viral particles to become infected, so the risk of developing a cold increases.

Influenza differs from the common cold by a sharp increase in symptoms, fever (body temperature from 38 ° C to 40 ° C), runny nose may appear on the second or third day after the onset of the disease, sneezing is often absent or appears a few days after the onset of pathology, sore throat and cough usually occur on the second day of the disease.

Influenza infection is accompanied by severe, sometimes intolerable, headache and body aches, chills, decreased appetite, nausea, red eyes. Untimely treatment leads to complications in the form of otitis media (ear disease), pneumonia (lung disease), bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchial mucosa), myocarditis (heart muscle damage), glomerulonephritis (kidney disease).

Coronavirus infection is also characterized by an acute onset of the disease, with the disease in most cases manifested by a dry cough, difficulty breathing, heaviness in the chest, high fever and severe weakness.

Quite rarely patients have a runny nose and sneezing. Many people who have had a severe form of covida develop complications. Most often the pulmonary system and the central nervous system are affected, also in the postcovidae period pathologies of the heart, digestive tract, thyroid gland are detected.

What to do if there is a fever without symptoms of a cold?

General practitioner, family physician of VSK Digital Clinic

Sometimes people may experience a fever without other obvious cold symptoms. In such cases, the following is recommended.

• Measure your temperature with a thermometer to make sure the reading is accurate. If it is indeed above 37 degrees Celsius, contact your doctor for a consultation to identify possible causes.

• It is important to rest and ensure that you get enough sleep.
• Observe the water balance and consume enough fluids to calculate your individual norm – you need to multiply 30 ml per body weight in kilograms.

• When the temperature is above 38°C, it is usually recommended to take over-the-counter antipyretics. However, you should consult a doctor before using them to make sure there are no contraindications.

How to relieve cold symptoms

At the first symptoms of a cold, such as runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat and mild fever, you can take the following steps:

• drink more fluids to avoid dehydration of the body and to facilitate the discharge of mucus;
• it is important to create a favorable environment for the treatment to be effective. For example, ensure normal indoor humidity (around 70%), e.g. use a humidifier, wet towels or containers of water;
• rest and get enough sleep to support the immune system;
• use saline-based nasal drops or sprays to relieve nasal congestion and improve breathing;
• avoid contact with other people to avoid transmitting the infection.

What to do for cold symptoms in children

A cold in children may present with the following symptoms:

• runny nose with copious mucus production;
• nasal congestion and difficulty breathing;
• sneezing and coughing;
• sore throat and difficulty swallowing;
• mild fever;
• fatigue and irritability.

If your child has these symptoms, it is recommended that he or she be comfortable, rested, drink plenty of water, and see a pediatrician for consultation and further advice.

It is important to remember that each person may react differently to a cold. If cold symptoms do not improve or worsen over several days, or if you experience new or bothersome symptoms, it is recommended that you contact your doctor for professional medical advice and evaluation of the condition.

Colds can be an unpleasant condition, but with a competent approach, most people make a full recovery without complications. It is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of infection and to see a doctor if symptoms become serious or persist for a long time.