If you didn’t know the cacophony of sniffles and coughs in public places, the cold season is in full swing.
While COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures have stifled the transmission of other respiratory viruses, we are seeing an influx of RSV, flu and COVID casesno longer a shortage of over-the-counter pain relievers for children.
If you are sick, health experts say it is important to stay home and rest to allow the body to recover and to avoid passing the virus on to others.
But some cold symptoms can last for weeks. So how do you know when it’s the right time to get back to your daily activities? Here’s what the experts said.
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Cold symptoms: can you have a fever with a cold?
Fevers aren’t common with colds, but it can happen, said Dr. Joseph Khabbaza, a pulmonary and critical care physician at the Cleveland Clinic.
Typical cold symptoms include:
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Cough
- Sore throat
- slight headache
- To sneeze
How long does a cold last ? How long is it contagious?
Cold symptoms can last seven to 10 days and may be more contagious in the first four to five days, said Dr. Maria Eugenia Petrini, medical director of the Clinically Integrated Network at Nemours Children’s Health.
Can you catch a cold in cold weather?
“Wrap up or you’ll catch a cold!” It’s the age-old expression of parents telling their children to refuse to wear their winter coat. But a recent study found they might be right.
Researchers at Northeastern University studied nasal samples and found that immune mechanisms in the nose work differently at different temperatures:
- Under normal body heat conditions, the nose has successfully deployed extracellular vesicles that bind and prevent viruses from entering the body.
- The researchers found that a drop in temperature of just 5 degrees led to a 50% decrease in immune activity.
“Our study is really about prevention, that initial exposure and how to build your defenses,” said lead author Mansoor Amiji, a professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Northeastern University.
How to treat a cold
Unlike bacterial infections, antibiotics have no impact on respiratory viruses. That means the best thing to do is drink plenty of fluids and rest while the virus runs its course, Petrini said.
While many Americans rely on painkillers to relieve cold symptoms, a shortage of over-the-counter medicines for children panicked some parents. But health experts say there are ways to treat a cold at home without medication:
- Drink plenty of fluids: Yes, this includes chicken noodle soup. Clear liquids – like water – are best, but experts also recommend warm apple juice or lemonade for young children.
- Stay comfortable: Wear loose clothing or take warm showers/baths if you have a fever. Avoid cold baths as they can make you shiver and increase your body temperature.
- Congested? Turn on a humidifier
- Get plenty of rest.
What can make a cold worse?
According to health experts, anything that weakens the body’s immune system could prevent you from recovering faster. This includes physical exertion, intense stress, smoking and alcohol.
“You can prolong the recovery if you don’t give yourself more time to recover,” Petrini said.
When can you resume your daily activities after a cold?
Health experts are urging people to stay home when sick to avoid spreading the virus in public spaces.
“People think they can go on with their routine life. But if you have a cold, you go through a viral process which is contagious,” Petrini said. “Staying home when you feel sick is the right thing to do for yourself and for others too.”
But after a week or two, you can begin to resume your daily activities even if there are still lingering cold symptoms. But it’s important to listen to your body’s limits.
- Gym: “Come back gradually rather than going full throttle,” Petrini said. Instead of taking a full class, take a half class, test the water, see how the body responds to this exercise and demand.
- Office: “We always tell the kids to be able to go back to school…they need to be fever free for 24 hours and the symptoms need to improve,” Petrini said. The same goes for adults, if they are not. feeling too tired.
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Follow Adrianna Rodriguez on Twitter: @AdriannaUSAT.
Coverage of patient health and safety at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial contributions.
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