THE COMMON COLD: ITS MODERN TREATMENT.

Treatment of the common cold.

The common cold is a viral illness that affects persons of all ages, prompting frequent use of over-the-counter and prescription medications and alternative remedies. Treatment focuses on relieving symptoms (e.g., cough, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea). Dextromethorphan may be beneficial in adults with cough, but its effectiveness has not been demonstrated in children and adolescents. Codeine has...

Newer Insights into the Prsevention of the Common Cold

Since most colds are self-limiting, symptoms will usually resolve on their own in seven to ten days. For the majority of patients, treatment is symptomatic and targeted at the most bothersome symptoms. Specific nonprescription therapy may relieve cold symptoms but should be used with caution, especially in at-risk patient populations. Patients should monitor for worsening symptoms, and progress...

Quercetin: A Promising Treatment for the Common Cold

Rhinovirus infections have afflicted humanity since the dawn of civilization, and are difficult to treat even with modern medicine. Throughout the ages many remedies have been used for the common cold, often caused by the rhinovirus. Recent research points to a flavanol anti-oxidant, quercetin, as having therapeutic properties. Quercetin has been shown to reduce viral internalization and replic...

Combined antiviral-antimediator treatment for the common cold.

A randomized, controlled, double-masked clinical trial was conducted with a combination antiviral-antimediator treatment for experimental rhinovirus colds. In all, 150 healthy men and women (aged 18-51 years) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: intranasal interferon (IFN)-alpha2b (6 x 10(6) U every 12 h x 3) plus oral chlorpheniramine (12 mg extended release) and ibuprofen (400 mg) every 1...

The common cold.