Cough and Cold - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Cough or cold common cold, also known as the common cold, is a mild viral infection of the upper respiratory tract, namely the nose and throat. Viral infections that cause coughs and colds can spread directly through splashes of mucus from the patient's respiratory tract, or indirectly through hands. Cough and cold can be experienced by anyone, from children to adults.

The incubation period for the virus that causes coughing and colds, or the period of time from when the virus enters the body until it causes symptoms, is generally 2-3 days. Patients will also feel the symptoms of a severe and very annoying cough and cold after 2-3 days of the appearance of symptoms. For clarity, see the schematic below.

Cough and cold (common cold) and the flu are two different diseases, but are often considered the same because of the similarity of the symptoms they cause. The difference between the two is the virus that causes it and the symptoms that accompany it.

There are various microorganisms that can cause coughs and colds, including the Corona virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, if you have a cold cough, you should consult a doctor to confirm the condition. Click the link below so you can be directed to the nearest health facility:

• Rapid Test Antibodies
• Antigen Swab (Rapid Test Antigen)
• PCR

Cold Cough Symptoms

In addition to colds and coughs, someone who is sick with a cold cough (common cold) may experience the following symptoms:

• sneeze
• Nasal congestion
• Feeling unwell or sore
• Hoarseness
• Itchy throat or sore throat
• Headache
• Fever
• Watery eyes
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Feeling pressure on the face and ears
• Ear pain
• Loss of appetite.

Although the symptoms of cough and cold (common cold) is very similar to the flu, there are several differences between the symptoms caused by the two, including:

• Flu more often causes fever in sufferers, while coughs and colds usually rarely cause fever.
• Influenza causes muscle pain and severe malaise in sufferers, while the pain caused by common cold often mild pain.
• The flu often causes chest pain, while a cold cough rarely causes these symptoms. If there is chest pain due to a cold cough, it is only mild.
• Flu often causes headaches, while coughs and colds are rare.
• Cough and cold often cause symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion, and sore throat, while the flu is rare.

Causes of Cold Cough

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is a group of viruses that cause the most common colds. In addition to the virus, this disease can also be caused by: coronavirus, adenovirus, human parainfluenza virus (HPIV), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

The virus enters the human body through the nose, mouth, or even the eyes, before causing symptoms. Viruses can enter the body when accidentally inhaling droplets of saliva from a cough with a cold, which is sprayed into the air through sneezing or coughing. In addition, the virus can also enter when a person touches the surface of an object that has been contaminated with saliva droplets containing the cough and cold virus, then touches his or her own nose, mouth, or eyes with those hands.

The following are a number of factors that can increase your risk of getting a cold and cough:

• Being in a crowd (market, school, office, or public transportation)
• Have a low immune system
• Have a history of chronic disease
• Children's age
• Smoke
• Cold air.

Cold Cough Treatment

Cough and cold is a viral infection that is classified as mild. When experiencing a cold and cough, a person is recommended to get enough rest, eat foods that are rich in fiber and low in fat, and drink lots of water to replace fluids lost from the body due to a nose that constantly blows mucus or a body that often sweats.

Meanwhile, to relieve symptoms of cough and cold, there are several ways that can be done, including:

• Applying balm

  This method can relieve symptoms of cough and cold, especially in infants and toddlers. Rub the balm on your back or chest, and don't let it go into your nostrils, because it's not only painful, but it can also interfere with your airway.

• Consuming candy containing menthol and gargle with salt water

  Both of these methods are believed to help relieve symptoms of nasal congestion and sore throat.

• Taking supplements zinc and vitamin C

  Both of these methods are believed to reduce the severity of symptoms and speed up healing of coughs and colds. However, this still requires further research.

• Taking over-the-counter medicines at pharmacies

  It is important to read the instructions for use on the packaging, and if necessary, ask a pharmacist or doctor. This is because some of these medicinal products are not suitable to be given to infants, children, pregnant or lactating women, and people with certain diseases. For example, giving aspirin to children can trigger Reye's syndrome, which can put their lives at risk.

  Keep in mind that colds and coughs are rarely caused by bacteria, so you don't need antibiotics. Antibiotics should only be taken as directed by a doctor

Additional Tips to Help Relieve Cough Symptoms in Children

Keep the room temperature so that it is comfortable for the child. Warm and humid temperatures can help relieve breathing. Take the child to the bathroom and turn on the hot shower so that the bathroom is filled with hot steam. This is intended to relieve breathing.

If your child has a stuffy nose, support the head with a pillow so that the head is slightly higher than the body. However, this method should not be applied to children under one year of age.

Recommended Time to See a Doctor

Most of the symptoms of cough and cold will go away on their own within 1-2 weeks. However, it is recommended that you see a doctor if your cough and cold symptoms do not go away for more than three weeks, you experience shortness of breath, or your symptoms get worse. In addition, consulting a doctor is highly recommended if a cold cough is accompanied by chest pain or coughing up blood.

As for cases of cough and cold in children, treatment by a doctor is highly recommended if:

• Symptoms of cough and cold have lasted more than three weeks.
• The severity of symptoms increases.
• The child feels severe pain in the throat (tonsillitis).
• The child feels severe pain in the ear.
• The child seems to have difficulty breathing.
• The child feels pain in the chest or there is blood in the mucus that comes out when coughing. This could indicate a bacterial infection.
• There are other symptoms that seem worrying.

In addition to the signs above, treatment by a doctor is also highly recommended if the child is under six months of age with symptoms of a high fever.

Complications of Cold Cough

Cough and cold can improve even without special treatment from a doctor. However, in people with immune system disorders, coughs and colds can develop into severe and cause complications. Complications of cough and cold can appear if it does not subside after 10 days. Call your doctor immediately if you experience complications of cough and cold, such as:

• Asthma attack. Asthma attacks can occur in cough and cold sufferers who have a history of asthma, especially in children. Symptoms of an asthma attack that can arise are shortness of breath and wheezing (wheezing). If an asthma attack occurs, the patient is advised to use asthma medication, contact a doctor immediately, and rest.
• Sinusitis.Symptoms of sinusitis that appear are pain in the face, cough, fever, headache, dry throat, and loss of the ability to taste and smell. Sinusitis can be treated with antibiotics and decongestants.
• Bronchitis.Bronchitis arises due to irritation of the lining of the windpipe (bronchus) branches. Symptoms of bronchitis that can appear include shortness of breath, cough with phlegm, fever, chills, and weakness.
• Bronchitis.Bronchiolitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, which are the airways that branch off from the bronchi. Bronchiolitis often occurs in children younger than 2 years and causes symptoms of shortness of breath, blue skin, difficulty swallowing food and drink, and wheezing or wheezing.
• Pneumonia.Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs. Some of the symptoms of pneumonia that can appear are shortness of breath, cough with phlegm, high fever, and chest pain.
• Ear infection middle part (otitis media). Coughing and colds can cause fluid to build up in the space behind the eardrum. The accumulation of fluid can be a means of bacterial or viral infection. Otitis media often occurs in children, which is characterized by ear pain, difficulty sleeping, and yellow or green discharge from the nose.

Cold Cough Prevention

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There are several steps you can take to avoid coughing and colds (cold). These include keeping a distance from people with colds and coughs until they recover, regularly washing hands with soap before eating, cleaning surfaces of objects that can be attached to the virus, and not sharing personal items and eating or drinking utensils with other people.

Consuming probiotics that contain good bacteria is thought to be useful in preventing coughs and colds, especially in children. Taking vitamin C, vitamin D, or zinc can also help to avoid coughs and colds. However, these two things still require further research.

If you have a cough, you should cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze to prevent the virus from spreading to the environment, and wash your hands afterwards.