Initial Post
Pharmacotherapy for Respiratory Disorders: Common Cold
The common cold is a virial infection of your upper respiratory tract (URI) it affects the
nose and throat. It is usually harmless, children younger than 6 are at greatest risks, then older
adults. Healthy adults can also get the common cold and it usually lasts about 10 days, but
symptoms can linger. Symptoms usually appear one to three days after exposure to the virus. The
symptoms vary but common ones include: runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, congestion,
slight body aches or a mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, and malaise (Mayo Clinic,
2017). Complications can result in otitis media, sinusitis, secondary infection such as pneumonia,
streptococcal pharyngitis, bronchitis, croup (Anatomical Chart Company, 2017).
Viruses that can cause the common cold are rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, myxoviruses,
adenoviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses (Anatomical Chart Company, 2017). The most
common virus is the rhinovirus, coughing and nasal congestion are the most common symptoms
reported. Transmission of the common cold is airborne by both small and large particles, and
direct contact. The most common way for your provider to diagnose you with the common cold
is through symptom evaluation with symptoms taking up to 2 weeks to subside (Arcangelo,
Peterson, Wilbur, & Reinhold, 2017).
