The Common Cold

Newer Insights into the Prsevention of the Common Cold

Since most colds are self-limiting, symptoms will usually resolve on their own in seven to ten days. For the majority of patients, treatment is symptomatic and targeted at the most bothersome symptoms. Specific nonprescription therapy may relieve cold symptoms but should be used with caution, especially in at-risk patient populations. Patients should monitor for worsening symptoms, and progress...

The common cold.

Studies in the Common Cold

1. Chimpanzees are highly suitable animals for the experimental study of human upper respiratory infections. 2. Human colds have been successfully transmitted to apes and human volunteers in 44 per cent of instances tried by means of filtered nasal washings obtained from colds. 3. Certain types of infectious colds are caused by a filtrable agent.

Defenseless against the common cold

New genetic mapping studies explain why a certain mouse strain is predisposed to developing fatal leukemia. Turcotte et al., reporting on page 881, identify a point mutation in the transcription factor IRF-8 (interferon regulatory factor 8) that abolishes its function and sets the stage for a second, leukemia-triggering mutation. The recombinant mouse strain BXH-2 is known to develop first a my...

Zinc for the common cold.

BACKGROUND The common cold is one of the most widespread illnesses and is a leading cause of visits to the doctor and absenteeism from school and work. Trials conducted in high-income countries since 1984 investigating the role of zinc for the common cold symptoms have had mixed results. Inadequate treatment masking and reduced bioavailability of zinc from some formulations have been cited as i...