Common cold infection

Mucous airway obstruction. Expectorants are meant to promote clearing of bronchial mucus by a liquefying action that involves either cleavage of mucous substances (mucolytics) or stimulation of production of watery mucus (e.g., hot beverages). Whether mucolytics are indicated in the common cold and whether expectorants such as bromohexine or ambroxole effectively lower viscosity of bronchial secretions may be questioned. In clinical studies of chronic obstructive bronchitis (but not common cold infections), N-acetylcysteine was shown to have clinical effectiveness, as evidenced by a lowered incidence of exacerbations during chronic intake. 

Herbal therapy is used to treat the common cold, infections, diseases of the G1 tract, and about anything else that ails you. Herbs are naturally grown and don t have the quality standards found in prescription and over-the-counter medications. You ll learn about the therapeutic effect of herbal therapies in this chapter and the adverse reactions patients can experience when herbal therapy is combined with conventional therapy. 

Ever wonder how people survived centuries ago when there wasn t a local pharmacy and the local physician was several days travel They used plants—called herbs—as medicine to treat the common cold, infections, diseases of the GI tract, and anything else that ailed them. 

Rhinoviruses, which represent the single major cause of common cold, belong to the family of picornavimses that harbors many medically relevant pathogens. Inhibitors of the 3C protease, a cysteine protease, have shown good antiviral potential. Several classes of compounds were designed based on the known substrate specificity of the enzyme. Mechanism-based, irreversible Michael-acceptors were shown to be both potent inhibitors of the purified enzyme and to have antiviral activity in infected cells. 

Vitamin C status is supposed to play a role in immune function and to influence the progression of some chronic degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, cataracts, and osteoporosis. The role of vitamin C in immune function, especially during common cold and upper respiratory tract infection, is the subject of lively debate. The exact mechanisms of action have not yet been fully elucidated, but the results of several trials point to a reduced duration and intensity of infections in subjects consuming high amounts of vitamin C (200-1000 mg/d). However, the incidence of common cold was not influenced significantly (24). 

M ore than 200 viruses have been identified as capable of producing disease Acute viruses, such as the common cold, have a rapid onset and quick recovery. Chronic viral infections, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), have recurrent episodes of exacerbations (increases in severity of symptoms of the disease) and remissions (periods of partial or complete disappearance of the signs and symptoms). Display 14-1 describes the viruses discussed in this chapter. 

Decongestants are used to treat the congestion associated with rhinitis, hay fever, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and the common cold. In addition, they are used in adjunctive therapy of middle ear infections to decrease congestion around the eustachian tube Nasal inhalers may relieve ear block and pressure pain during air travel. Many can be administered orally as well as topically, but topical application is more effective than the oral route. 

Rhinoviruses cause a significant fraction of the common colds suffered by the human population. However, members of the Rhinovirus genus (Picomaviridae family) include 100 different serotypes that infect humans, making a vaccine strategy impractical. Thus, alternative strategies are needed to intervene in these non-life-threatening but inconvenient infections. 

Virus infections such as influenza and the common cold (in reality 300-400 different strains ofrhinovirus) infect epithelial cells ofthe respiratory tract and nasopharynx, respectively. Release ofthe virus, after lysis ofthe host cells, is to the void rather than to subepithelial tissues. The epithelia is further infected resulting in general degeneration ofthe tracts. Such damage predisposes the respiratory tract to infection with opportunistic pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae. 

From the standpoint of biochemical individuality, one suspects that common colds have diverse etiologies, depending upon the susceptibilities of the individual concerned, the distinctive flora which he supports, and the various infective agents which can cause symptoms of about the same type. If this is the case, then the search for a single means of combating common colds will probably always be fruitless, and we will have to be content with a series of measures that will be effective for different groups of people when they have different types of infections. 

Human rhinoviruses (HRV) are members of the Picornaviridae family. The HRVs are classified according to their receptor specificity into members of the major and minor groups. The 87 members of the major-group viruses bind to the intracellular adhesion molecule receptor 1 (ICAM-1), whereas the 12 serotypes of the minor group bind to members of the low-density lipoprotein receptor family (LDLR) [42]. Rhinoviruses cause more than a billion cases of the common cold each year and are also associated with asthma exacerbations [43,44]. Statistically, one encounters one to three infections per year on the average [45]. As a result, rhinoviral infections are responsible for 25 million days of missed work in the USA [46]. 

Let s conclude this discussion of life with a short consideration of viruses. Viruses cause all sorts of problems for living organisms. The problems are the consequence of their ability to infect, and ultimately kiU, many types of cells— bacterial, animal, and plant—though each virus is quite specific in terms of the type of cell that it infects. There are many types of viruses. In people, they cause measles, mumps, influenza, AIDS, polio, potentially fatal diarrhea in infants and very young children, herpes, chicken pox, shingles, the common cold, and many other diseases, that may be fatal, serious, and not so serious. In other animals, viruses also cause any number of diseases, as they do in plants. Much effort has been, and continues to be, devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of viral diseases. 

Humans, plants, insects, and other animals are all susceptible to viral infection therefore, prevention and control of viral disease carry important health and economic implications. The common cold, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and some cancers are carried by viruses. Viral plant diseases are known to impact fruit trees, tobacco, and many vegetables [1]. Both insects and animals have the ability to transfer viral disease to humans and other animals. The health and economic consequences of viral disease carry enormous consequences, and significant advances have been made toward amelioration of antiviral threats. There is a critical need to identify novel drug classes and new chemical structures, which can be exploited for antiviral drug development. 

Rhinorrhoea and sneezing are characteristic symptoms of allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Fever and chesty cough indicate an upper respiratory tract infection. Headache and malaise are accompanying symptoms of common colds. Headache may also develop in allergic rhinitis because of congested sinuses. 

Therapeutic measures. First attempts of a causal treatment consist of zanamavir, an inhibitor of viral neuraminidase, an enzyme necessary for virus adsorption and infection of cells. However, since symptoms of common cold abate spontaneously, there is no compelling need to use drugs. Conventional remedies are intended for symptomatic relief. 

Arroll B. Non-antibiotic treatments for upper-respiratory tract infections (common cold). Respir Med 2005 99(12) 1477-84. 

The spectrum of respiratory tract infections (RTI) can vary from the common cold to acute or chronic bronchitis to community-acquired pneumonia to nosocomial pneumonia and aspiration pneumonia to ventilator-associated pneumonia to chronic pneumonia (in cystic fibrosis, histoplasmosis, tuberculosis, etc.). Important complications are lung abscess and pleural empyema that will often need drainage and prolonged antimicrobial treatment (>6 weeks). 

N.A. Eupatorium perfoliatum L. Sesquiterpene lactones (eupafolin), polysaccharides, flavonoids, diterpenes, sterols, volatile oil.100 Immunostimulant. Relieve common cold, stimulate resistance to viral, bacterial infection. 

Common cold, influenza, acute respiratory infections and allergies. 

A virus is one of the smallest microorganisms, consisting of only a nucleic acid core that is surrounded by a protein shell.18 Several types of viruses commonly infect human cells and are responsible for a diverse range of pathologies. Viral infections extend from relatively mild disorders such as the common cold to serious, life-threatening conditions such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Viruses are somewhat unique in that they must rely totally on the metabolic processes of the host (human) cell to function.62 Hence, the pharmacologic treatment of viral infections is complex, because it is often difficult to selectively destroy the virus without also destroying human cells. 

Echinacea is derived from the root and seeds of the Echinacea plant that grows in parts of the Midwestern United States. This herb is used primarily to stimulate or support the immune system, and is often used to treat cold symptoms and other relatively minor respiratory tract infections.8 38 Although the exact reasons for beneficial effects are unclear, there is considerable evidence that echinacea preparations can reduce symptoms of the common cold when taken soon after symptoms appear.5,71 The ability of echinacea to prevent colds and other infections, however, is less well defined.49 Echinacea can also be administered topically to treat burns and other localized wounds. The most common side effects associated with echinacea are gastrointestinal (GI) upset, skin rash, and other allergic or hypersensitivity reactions.36... 

The common cold, coughs, respiratory infections, flatulence, indigestion, loss of appetite... 

Gallbladder problems, water retention, jaundice, general debility Colic, flatulence, indigestion, coughs, conjunctivitis The common cold, coughs, adenoid problems, respiratory infections, other bacterial infections, high blood pressure (hypertension), acne The common cold, coughs, sore throat, respiratory infections, loss of appetite, bruises, anxiety... 

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