Editing Common cold (section)

==Management==
[[File:Pneumonia strikes like a man eating shark.jpg|upright|thumb|Poster from 1937 encouraging citizens to "consult your physician" for treatment of the common cold]]

Treatments of the common cold primarily involve [[symptomatic treatment|medications and other therapies for symptomatic relief]].<ref name=AFP07/> Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to maintain hydration, and [[gargling]] with warm salt water are reasonable conservative measures.<ref name="NIAID2006">{{cite web |title=Common Cold |publisher=[[National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases]] |date=27 November 2006 |url=http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/ |access-date=11 June 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906193939/http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/healthscience/healthtopics/colds/ |archive-date=6 September 2008}}</ref> Much of the benefit from symptomatic treatment is, however, attributed to the [[placebo effect]].<ref>Eccles p. 261</ref> {{As of|2010|post=,}} no medications or herbal remedies had been conclusively demonstrated to shorten the duration of infection.<ref>{{cite web |title=Common Cold: Treatments and Drugs |publisher=Mayo Clinic |url=http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/DS00056/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs |access-date=9 January 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212105512/http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/common-cold/DS00056/DSECTION%3Dtreatments-and-drugs |archive-date=12 February 2010}}</ref>

===Symptomatic===
[[File:Treatments for the Common Cold (37652567755).jpg|thumb|Various treatments for the common cold - liquid and pill cold medicine, tea, throat lozenges, and over-the-counter decongestants.]]
Treatments that may help with symptoms include [[analgesics|pain medication]] and [[antipyretic|medications for fevers]] such as [[ibuprofen]]<ref name="Kim2015" /> and [[Paracetamol|acetaminophen (paracetamol)]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Eccles R |title=Efficacy and safety of over-the-counter analgesics in the treatment of common cold and flu |journal=Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=309–19 |date=August 2006 |pmid=16882099 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2710.2006.00754.x |s2cid=22793984 |doi-access=free}}</ref> However, it is not clear whether acetaminophen helps with symptoms.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Li S, Yue J, Dong BR, Yang M, Lin X, Wu T |title=Acetaminophen (paracetamol) for the common cold in adults |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=7 |pages=CD008800 |date=July 2013 |volume=2013 |pmid=23818046 |pmc=7389565 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD008800.pub2}}</ref> It is not known if over-the-counter [[cough medicine|cough medications]] are effective for treating an [[Acute (medicine)|acute]] cough.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Smith SM, Schroeder K, Fahey T |title=Over-the-counter (OTC) medications for acute cough in children and adults in community settings |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2014 |issue=11 |pages=CD001831 |date=November 2014 |pmid=25420096 |pmc=7061814 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001831.pub5}}</ref> Cough medicines are not recommended for use in children due to a lack of evidence supporting effectiveness and the potential for harm.<ref name=CFP09>{{cite journal |vauthors=Shefrin AE, Goldman RD |title=Use of over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children |journal=Canadian Family Physician |volume=55 |issue=11 |pages=1081–3 |date=November 2009 |pmid=19910592 |pmc=2776795 |url=http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/11/1081.full.pdf |url-status=live |df=dmy-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202113/http://www.cfp.ca/content/55/11/1081.full.pdf |archive-date=23 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Vassilev ZP, Kabadi S, Villa R |title=Safety and efficacy of over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for use in children |journal=Expert Opinion on Drug Safety |volume=9 |issue=2 |pages=233–42 |date=March 2010 |pmid=20001764 |doi=10.1517/14740330903496410 |s2cid=12952868}}</ref> In 2009, Canada restricted the use of [[over-the-counter]] cough and cold medication in children six years and under due to concerns regarding risks and unproven benefits.<ref name=CFP09/> The misuse of [[dextromethorphan]] (an over-the-counter cough medicine) has led to its ban in a number of countries.<ref>Eccles p. 246</ref> [[Corticosteroid|Intranasal corticosteroids]] have not been found to be useful.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hayward G, Thompson MJ, Perera R, Del Mar CB, Glasziou PP, Heneghan CJ |title=Corticosteroids for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=10 |pages=CD008116 |date=October 2015 |volume=2016 |pmid=26461493 |doi=10.1002/14651858.cd008116.pub3 |pmc=8734596 |url=https://pure.bond.edu.au/ws/files/32879677/Corticosteroids_for_the_common_cold.pdf |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=9 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109194311/https://pure.bond.edu.au/ws/files/32879677/Corticosteroids_for_the_common_cold.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

In adults, short term use of [[nasal decongestants]] may have a small benefit.<ref name="Deckx2016" /> [[Antihistamine]]s may improve symptoms in the first day or two; however, there is no longer-term benefit and they have adverse effects such as drowsiness.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=De Sutter AI, Saraswat A, van Driel ML |title=Antihistamines for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2015 |issue=11 |pages=CD009345 |date=November 2015 |pmid=26615034 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009345.pub2 |pmc=9468790 |url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/7237869 |hdl-access=free |hdl=1854/LU-7237869 |access-date=12 December 2019 |archive-date=5 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505030304/https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/7237869 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other decongestants such as [[pseudoephedrine]] appear effective in adults.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Taverner D, Latte J |title=Nasal decongestants for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=1 |pages=CD001953 |date=January 2007 |pmid=17253470 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001953.pub3 |veditors=Latte GJ}}</ref><ref name=Deckx2016>{{cite journal |vauthors=Deckx L, De Sutter AI, Guo L, Mir NA, van Driel ML |title=Nasal decongestants in monotherapy for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2016 |pages=CD009612 |date=October 2016 |issue=10 |pmid=27748955 |pmc=6461189 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD009612.pub2}}</ref> Combined oral analgesics, antihistaminics, and decongestants are generally effective for older children and adults.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=De Sutter |first1=An Im |last2=Eriksson |first2=Lars |last3=van Driel |first3=Mieke L. |date=21 January 2022 |title=Oral antihistamine-decongestant-analgesic combinations for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=CD004976 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD004976.pub4 |issn=1469-493X |pmc=8780136 |pmid=35060618}}</ref> [[Ipratropium]] nasal spray may reduce the symptoms of a runny nose but has little effect on stuffiness.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=AlBalawi ZH, Othman SS, Alfaleh K |title=Intranasal ipratropium bromide for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=6 |pages=CD008231 |date=June 2013 |volume=2013 |pmid=23784858 |pmc=6492479 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD008231.pub3}}</ref> Ipratropium may also help with coughs in adults.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=DeGeorge KC, Ring DJ, Dalrymple SN |title=Treatment of the Common Cold |journal=American Family Physician |volume=100 |issue=5 |pages=281–289 |date=September 2019 |pmid=31478634}}</ref> The safety and effectiveness of nasal decongestant use in children is unclear.<ref name=Deckx2016 />

Due to lack of studies, it is not known whether increased fluid intake improves symptoms or shortens respiratory illness.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Guppy MP, Mickan SM, Del Mar CB, Thorning S, Rack A |title=Advising patients to increase fluid intake for treating acute respiratory infections |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=2 |pages=CD004419 |date=February 2011 |volume=2011 |pmid=21328268 |pmc=7197045 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD004419.pub3 |veditors=Guppy MP}}</ref> As of 2017, heated and humidified air, such as via RhinoTherm, is of unclear benefit.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Singh M, Singh M, Jaiswal N, Chauhan A |title=Heated, humidified air for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2017 |pages=CD001728 |date=August 2017 |issue=8 |pmid=28849871 |pmc=6483632 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD001728.pub6}}</ref> One study has found [[Chest rub|chest vapor rub]] to provide some relief of nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty.<ref name="pmid21059712">{{cite journal |vauthors=Paul IM, Beiler JS, King TS, Clapp ER, Vallati J, Berlin CM |title=Vapor rub, petrolatum, and no treatment for children with nocturnal cough and cold symptoms |journal=Pediatrics |volume=126 |issue=6 |pages=1092–9 |date=December 2010 |pmid=21059712 |pmc=3600823 |doi=10.1542/peds.2010-1601}}</ref>

Some experts  advise against [[physical exercise]] if there are symptoms such as fever, widespread [[Myalgia|muscle aches]] or [[fatigue (medical)|fatigue]].<ref name=mayo>{{cite web |url=http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20058494 |title=Is it OK to exercise if I have a cold? |website=[[Mayo Clinic]] |vauthors=Laskowski ER |date=9 February 2017 |access-date=4 July 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719092604/http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/expert-answers/exercise/faq-20058494 |archive-date=19 July 2017}}</ref><ref name=acsm>{{cite web |url=http://www.acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/acsm-in-the-news/2011/08/01/clearing-the-air-on-exercise-and-the-common-cold |title=Clearing the Air on Exercise and the Common Cold |website=[[American College of Sports Medicine]] |access-date=4 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722112319/http://acsm.org/about-acsm/media-room/acsm-in-the-news/2011/08/01/clearing-the-air-on-exercise-and-the-common-cold |archive-date=22 July 2017}}</ref> It is regarded as safe to perform moderate exercise if the symptoms are confined to the [[Human head|head]], including [[runny nose]], [[nasal congestion]], [[sneezing]], or a minor [[sore throat]].<ref name=mayo/><ref name=acsm/> There is a popular belief that having a hot drink can help with cold symptoms, but evidence to support this is very limited.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=National Health Service |title=Hot drinks ease cold and flu |date=10 December 2008 |url=https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/hot-drinks-ease-cold-and-flu/ |access-date=27 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125101914/https://www.nhs.uk/news/food-and-diet/hot-drinks-ease-cold-and-flu/ |archive-date=25 November 2020}}</ref>

===Antibiotics and antivirals===
[[Antibiotics]] have no effect against viral infections, including the common cold.<ref name=CochraneAR2013>{{cite journal |vauthors=Kenealy T, Arroll B |title=Antibiotics for the common cold and acute purulent rhinitis |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2013 |issue=6 |pages=CD000247 |date=June 2013 |pmid=23733381 |pmc=7044720 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD000247.pub3}}</ref> Due to their side effects, antibiotics cause overall harm but nevertheless are still frequently prescribed.<ref name=CochraneAR2013/><ref>Eccles p. 238</ref> Some of the reasons that antibiotics are so commonly prescribed include people's expectations for them, physicians' desire to help, and the difficulty in excluding complications that may be amenable to antibiotics.<ref>Eccles p. 234</ref> There are no effective [[antiviral drug]]s for the common cold even though some preliminary research has shown benefits.<ref name=AFP07/><ref name="EcclesPg_b">Eccles p. 218</ref>

===Zinc===
{{Main|Zinc and the common cold}}

[[Zinc supplements]] may shorten the duration of colds by up to 33% and reduce the severity of symptoms if supplementation begins within 24&nbsp;hours of the onset of symptoms.<ref name=NIH2016Zinc/><ref name=Cochrane2013/><ref name="Zinc CC 2018 SystRev">{{cite journal |vauthors=Rondanelli M, Miccono A, Lamburghini S, Avanzato I, Riva A, Allegrini P, Faliva MA, Peroni G, Nichetti M, Perna S |display-authors=6 |title=Self-Care for Common Colds: The Pivotal Role of Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and ''Echinacea'' in Three Main Immune Interactive Clusters (Physical Barriers, Innate and Adaptive Immunity) Involved during an Episode of Common Colds-Practical Advice on Dosages and on the Time to Take These Nutrients/Botanicals in order to Prevent or Treat Common Colds |journal=Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine |volume=2018 |pages=5813095 |year=2018 |pmid=29853961 |pmc=5949172 |doi=10.1155/2018/5813095 |quote=Considering zinc, the supplementation may shorten the duration of colds by approximately 33%. CC patients may be instructed to try zinc within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=Hemila_2017a>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hemilä H, Fitzgerald JT, Petrus EJ, Prasad A |title=Zinc Acetate Lozenges May Improve the Recovery Rate of Common Cold Patients: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis |journal=Open Forum Infectious Diseases |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=ofx059 |year=2017 |pmid=28480298 |pmc=5410113 |doi=10.1093/ofid/ofx059 |quote=The 3-fold increase in the rate of recovery from the common cold is a clinically important effect. The optimal formulation of zinc lozenges and an ideal frequency of their administration should be examined. Given the evidence of efficacy, common cold patients may be instructed to try zinc acetate lozenges within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.}}</ref><ref name=Hemila_2016>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hemilä H, Petrus EJ, Fitzgerald JT, Prasad A |title=Zinc acetate lozenges for treating the common cold: an individual patient data meta-analysis |journal=British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology |volume=82 |issue=5 |pages=1393–1398 |date=November 2016 |pmid=27378206 |pmc=5061795 |doi=10.1111/bcp.13057}}</ref> Some zinc remedies directly applied to the inside of the nose have led to the [[anosmia|loss of the sense of smell]].<ref name=NIH2016Zinc/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm167282.htm |title=Loss of Sense of Smell with Intranasal Cold Remedies Containing Zinc |website=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |year=2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604024153/https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm167282.htm |archive-date=4 June 2015}}</ref> A 2017 review did not recommend the use of zinc for the common cold for various reasons;<ref name=Mal2017/> whereas a 2017 and 2018 review both recommended the use of zinc, but also advocated further research on the topic.<ref name="Zinc CC 2018 SystRev" /><ref name="Hemila_2017a" />

===Alternative medicine===
{{main|Alternative treatments used for the common cold}}
While there are many [[alternative medicine]]s and [[Traditional Chinese medicine|Chinese herbal medicines]] supposed to treat the common cold, there is insufficient [[evidence-based medicine|scientific evidence]] to support their use.<ref name=AFP07/><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Wu T, Zhang J, Qiu Y, Xie L, Liu GJ |title=Chinese medicinal herbs for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |issue=1 |pages=CD004782 |date=January 2007 |pmid=17253524 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD004782.pub2}}</ref> As of 2015, there is weak evidence to support [[nasal irrigation]] with [[saline (medicine)|saline]].<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=King D, Mitchell B, Williams CP, Spurling GK |title=Saline nasal irrigation for acute upper respiratory tract infections |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2015 |issue=4 |pages=CD006821 |date=April 2015 |pmid=25892369 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006821.pub3 |pmc=9475221 |url=http://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:363301/UQ363301_OA.pdf |access-date=30 December 2018 |archive-date=5 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505030257/https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/data/UQ_363301/UQ363301_OA.pdf?Expires=1588647864&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJKNBJ4MJBJNC6NLQ&Signature=JNzYRuMeJadbzbgCE~xCv8xoYpIcVafTFA-YDCLgXUQxrBDH84lVq2sENa6OkdMaBI1hD7EIAdcrNxl4Zpx1dfo05al3UFxXwQiYIxlAf1iiGf8DzCYk2pv7gvM-kgHXa46x2P~571ZZz6a5cFmlzMTm2xfmfHSwLv9zObHNiIPn~QauXGNGkKCLpQs4wA6CsAbY4utwc~wQiB-8VYuXj~WgsRK0ng3zOi5mk~wlAbMPqyzqyrrZx2SZERa6fJBXHvAhM5pzPYUXC6aSMNC82Usp7OEASHbkmQeu0WE8023xvwrQTzKDWu43cYXJ1VAsVEpBaL0ulZYYD1898nUZ6Q__ |url-status=live }}</ref> There is no firm evidence that [[Echinacea]] products or [[garlic]] provide any meaningful benefit in treating or preventing colds.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Karsch-Völk M, Barrett B, Kiefer D, Bauer R, Ardjomand-Woelkart K, Linde K |title=Echinacea for preventing and treating the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=2 |issue=2 |pages=CD000530 |date=February 2014 |pmid=24554461 |pmc=4068831 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD000530.pub3 |type=Systematic review}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Lissiman E, Bhasale AL, Cohen M |title=Garlic for the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=11 |issue=11 |pages=CD006206 |date=November 2014 |pmid=25386977 |pmc=6465033 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD006206.pub4 |veditors=Lissiman E}}</ref>

===Vitamins C and D===
{{Main|Vitamin C and the common cold}}
{{Main|Vitamin D and respiratory tract infections}}
[[Vitamin C]] [[dietary supplement|supplementation]] does not affect the incidence of the common cold, but may reduce its duration if taken on a regular basis.<ref name=Hem2013>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hemilä H, Chalker E |title=Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold |journal=The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=CD000980 |date=January 2013 |pmid=23440782 |pmc=1160577 |doi=10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4}}</ref> There is no conclusive evidence that [[vitamin D]] supplementation is efficacious in the prevention or treatment of respiratory tract infections.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Bradley R, Schloss J, Brown D, Celis D, Finnell J, Hedo R, Honcharov V, Pantuso T, Peña H, Lauche R, Steel A |display-authors=6 |title=The effects of vitamin D on acute viral respiratory infections: A rapid review |journal=Advances in Integrative Medicine |volume=7 |issue=4 |pages=192–202 |date=December 2020 |pmid=32837896 |pmc=7397989 |doi=10.1016/j.aimed.2020.07.011}}</ref>