Abstract

The common cold is a virus infection of the respiratory mucosa causing congestion and increased mucus secretion. It favours bacterial growth, particular of Haemophilus and Pneumococcus, which further irritates the mucosa and sometimes leads to sinusitis, bronchitis or otitis media. No way of preventing or curing colds in the community is known. Most sufferers, however, take this as a clinical challenge, and the folklore of the management of the common cold and its complications must be amongst the richest in medicine. Some of the more sophisticated suggestions are worth examination.