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Common cold
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===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=309β19 |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=1081β3 |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=233β42 |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=281β289 |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=1092β9 |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>
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