Friday, December 30, 2005
How does one catch colds?
The common cold is spread through direct person-to-person contact. Viruses from infected persons are airborne in droplet spray that is emitted during normal respiration (breathing), sneezing and even coughing. The portal of infection is the nasopharynx, which is the upper part of the throat behind the nose. It has a short incubation period of only one to four days. Susceptibility to colds is determined by a person's immune system status (immunologic status). Physiologic functions such as fatigue, allergy, rhinitis and menses could increase the likelihood of catching colds.
Although nasal discharge is the hallmark of the common cold, symptoms differ from person to person. Some complain only of headache, others complain of pharyngitis and cough. The physical signs, however, are limited to the nasopharynx, the sinuses and the middle ears.
Complications of the common cold are usually bacterial in nature, where effusions or discharge may appear in the sinuses and in the middle ear.
