NOT MUCH TO DO FOR THE COMMON COLD

When it comes to the common cold, there isn't much any cold sufferer can do except take plenty of fluids, get plenty of rest, take medication for the symptoms, and let it run its course.

"Pretty well, a cold is going to just run its course," said Jane Wernsman, nursing supervisor for the Cape Girardeau County Health Department. "It is a viral problem and not something that can be easily treated."

Wernsman says the best thing to do is try to avoid a cold. But she admits that is not always easy because it requires staying away from groups of people and requires some effort from other people to prevent its spread.

A cold has an incubation period of 12-72 hours, according to the "Control of Communicable Diseases In Man," published by the American Public Health Association. A cold can be spread from 24 hours before the onset of symptoms and up to five days after symptoms appear.

The book also points out that there are "no effective measures known for specific treatment."

Wernsman said there appears to be no good cure, though many people have suggestions and special remedies on how to deal with colds.

"The best thing is to get plenty of rest, take plenty of fluids, and some other things like decongestants or antihistamines to relieve some of the symptoms such as sneezing, watery eyes, fever, and a runny nose," she explained.

According to the book, frequently referred to by staff at the health department, the "infectious agents of a cold are the rhino viruses, of which there are more than 100 recognized types ... the origin of over half the common colds have not been identified."

Wernsman points out that the cold season pretty much aligns with flu season -- from early October until April. "Colds can occur anytime, but that seems to be the peak season," she noted.

One important consideration with a cold is that if an effort is not made to deal with it, a cold can become much more serious and cause respiratory problems.

Just as treatment for colds are hard to pinpoint, just what causes colds are also difficult to pinpoint. For example, going outside in cold weather without being properly dressed, may not necessarily lead to a cold.

Said Wernsman: "Not dressing warmly would put you more at risk or make you more susceptible, but will not necessarily cause a cold. It is a virus, and a lot of things can lead to it."

Ultimately, the best way to treat a cold is to not catch one in the first place, Wernsman says.

"People should try to be eating good, nutritional meals and try to avoid crowded areas and a lot of exposure to individuals," she explained.

"It is important to have you body in a good healthy state, nutrition-wise and rest-wise. When individuals are run down and not in their best health, they are more susceptible to viruses and other things."

Wernsman recommends frequent hand washing to prevent the spread of cold germs, and says it is important for people who sneeze and cough to cover their nose and mouth.

Parents and child care workers should be especially careful to keep their hands washed and see that tissues and handkerchiefs are properly disposed of Wernsman said, because that is a common way to spread germs.

Although children frequently have runny noses, Wernsman said there is no scientific study that demonstrates most colds originate from kids. Though many adults who spend time around children tend to be prone to frequent colds.