About this topic
You have a viral upper respiratory infection. It is also called a URI or cold. A tiny germ called a virus causes this infection. It often affects your nose, throat, ears, and sinuses. A cold can easily spread from person to person. Coughing, sneezing, and touching something with the germ on it spreads the cold. ‚
Viral infections often go away after 2 to 3 weeks without treatment. But some can cause very serious health problems. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Drink lots of water, juice, or broth to replace fluids lost in runny nose and fever.
- Gargle with warm salt water a few times daily. Mix 1/2 teaspoon salt with a cup of warm water.
- Keep your room cool. Use a cool mist humidifier. This will add moisture to the air and help ease congestion and coughing.
- You may use saline nose drops to relieve stuffiness.
- Use 2 to 3 pillows under your head and shoulders when you lie down. This will make it easier to breathe and sleep.
- Do not smoke. Stay away from others who are smoking.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Open up the tubes of your lungs
- Treat viral infection
- Relieve or stop coughing
- Help with pain from a sore throat
- Relieve runny and stuffy nose
- Provide oxygen
Will physical activity be limited?
You need to rest for a few days to let your body recover from the infection. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
Eat soft foods like soup if swallowing is too painful. ‚
What problems could happen?
- Asthma attack
- Sinus infections
- Lung problems like pneumonia and bronchitis
- Severe fluid loss. This is dehydration.
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds, especially after coughing or sneezing. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers also work to kill the virus.
- If you are sick, cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you cough or sneeze. You can also cough into your elbow. Throw away tissues in the trash and wash your hands after touching used tissues.
- Do not get too close (kissing, hugging) to people who are sick.
- Do not share towels or hankies with anyone who is sick. Clean commonly handled things like door handles, remotes, toys, and phones. Wipe them with a disinfectant.
- Stay away from crowded places.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough.
- Take vitamin C to help build up your bodys ability to fight disease.
- Get a flu shot each year.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, very bad sore throat, ear or sinus pain, cough, more sputum or change in color of sputum, mouth sores.
- Throwing up and cant keep liquids down
- Breathing very fast, more than 40 breaths in 1 minute
- Trouble breathing while lying down flat on your back
- Excessive tiredness
- Your fingertips or lips are starting to turn bluish
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what may help ease my signs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a fever, chills, breathing very fast, or trouble breathing.
Where can I learn more?
Canadian Lung Association ‚
http://www.lung.ca/diseases-maladies/a-z/cold-rhume/index_e.php ‚
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases ‚
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/commonCold/Pages/treatment.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚