By Dr. Okechukwu Amako, MBBS (Ibadan)
During the harmattan and rainy season, a lot of people, both
children and adults, come down with a cold (cough and catarrh). Cough and
catarrh are caused are caused by viruses known as common cold viruses. These
viruses can infect healthy people when someone with cough and catarrh coughs,
sneezes or talks, producing droplets which carry them in the air. Because
common cold viruses can be spread from infected people through the air, the
rainy season and harmattan period are perfect for these viruses, accounting for
why so many have cough and catarrh during these periods.
The common cold viruses infect a healthy person by entering
his or her body through the mouth, nose and even the eyes. Also, a healthy
person is likely to catch a cold if he or she comes into contact with someone
who has cough and catarrh, either through a handshake or sharing things like
spoons or towels, and then touches his or her mouth, nose or eyes without
properly washing his or her hands.
Cough and catarrh can be very discomforting because, in
addition to the cough and catarrh (runny or congested nose) that are the usual
symptoms, the affected person may have a fever and/or headache, complain of
sore throat, sneeze very often and feel weak. These symptoms can be slightly
severe and more discomforting in children.
However, the body usually takes care of cough and catarrh in
most people within one week, even without any form of treatment. This is
because the symptoms of cough and catarrh are the manifestations of the body's
immune system actions against the common cold virus invading the body.
Hence, the right treatment for cough and catarrh is not
targeted against the common cold virus because the body's immune system takes
care of the virus, but towards this action of the immune system to calm it down
a bit, thereby relieving the affected person of the discomforting symptoms of
cough and catarrh. This is why it is very wrong to take antibiotics for cough
and catarrh: antibiotics are not meant for and don't work against viruses but
for bacteria and bacteria don't usually cause cough and catarrh.
Treating cough and catarrh the right way means using
medications and applying some remedies that relieve the discomforting symptoms.
Most of these medications are over-the-counter, so you can walk into a good
pharmacy and get them:
1. Analgesics like paracetamol can be used if there is
headache or fever.
2. Medications broadly known as antihistamines help in
relieving symptoms like runny nose and sneezing. The common side effect of this
class of drugs is dizziness or sedation (prolonged sleeping). A common example
is piriton
3. Another group of drugs for relieving the symptoms of
cough and catarrh is a combination of an antihistamine, a cough-suppressing
compound; a decongestant (helps to relieve the stuffy nose). Some preparations
may have an additional class of compound that helps you to easily cough out the
thick yellow mucous substance that accumulates in your lungs when you have
cough and catarrh. An example is the cough syrup that appears under different
brand names.
4. Symptoms like stuffy nose can also be relieved by taking
a hot tea or just drinking hot water.
Common cold is self-limiting, your body takes care of the
virus, and together with the above medications and remedies to relieve its
discomforting symptoms, you get better in a few days’ time. Moreover, it is
important that you try as much as possible to limit the spread of the virus to
other people by always washing your hands with soap and water after coughing or
sneezing, closing your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or a tissue paper
when coughing or sneezing.
Also important: Do not give over-the-counter cough and
catarrh medicines to children under 4 years of age without a doctor's
prescription because some of these medicines may have life-threatening side
effects in babies and younger children.
Thank You.
Comments