Cold Comfort

In the bird flu scare season, Toufiq Rashid warms up to the common cold

IF the regular season-change maladies weren8217;t bad enough, we now have to consider bird flu as well. At the peak of the panic, large numbers of people showed up in New Delhi hospitals, convinced they had caught the bird bug.

If it8217;s not bird flu, what is it?
Let8217;s be clear about one thing: there are no human cases of bird flu in India. So it8217;s more likely the cold-sniffle-cough routine you8217;re suffering from is due to the upper respiratory viral infections that infect almost all of us one to three times a year.

What are these viruses?
There are more than 200 viruses that bring on cold-like symptoms by inflaming the mucous lining of the nose and throat. They manifest themselves8212;usually a day or two after exposure to the virus8212;through nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, a runny nose, watery eyes and a sore throat. The infection normally lasts a week to 10 days. Interestingly, the symptoms are not caused by the virus itself, but by the body8217;s attempts to get rid of the virus.

Why do they come back when seasons change?
8216;8216;Early March is the season of allergies because the air8217;s laden with pollen,8217;8217; says

Dr Sunil Jain, senior consultant in medicine at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi. 8216;8216;The pollen causes the mucous membrane of the nose to swell up, making it easier for the virus to enter the body. Viruses are always active in our environment; the allergies make it worse.8217;8217;


	FOR THE BIRDS It is true that milder forms of bird flu in human beings display symptoms similar to the common flu. But it doesnrsquo;t stop theremdash;it goes on to cause multiple organ failure. So itrsquo;s important to bear in mind that all human samples tested for bird flu in India are negative, says Dr Jain.

Do medicines work?
Though people across the world spend millions every year on various over-the-counter cold-suppressants, medications don8217;t really work, say doctors. 8216;8216;Colds and flus take about seven days to run the course if treated, and slightly longer otherwise,8217;8217; says Jain. 8216;8216;The treatment addresses the symptoms, not the disease.8217;8217;

And since the symptoms actually represent the body8217;s efforts to eliminate the virus, the conventional cold remedies that try to suppress the fever, runny nose, sneezing and coughing, simply don8217;t make sense. Antibiotics commonly requested by patients themselves, don8217;t work at all.

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How does one prevent catching a cold?
8226; Colds spread by droplet infection, says Jain, so avoid exposure
8226; Clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rubs and gels or even ordinary soap and water several times through the day. Very hot water and antibacterial soaps are not essential
8226; After washing your hands, use a moisturiser. Dry, cracked skin lets in viruses more easily
8226; Avoid shaking hands, try a namaste instead
8226; Try to avoid public telephones
8226; Use disposable tissues instead of hankies
8226; Minimise exposure to crowds, especially in closed spaces such as elevators and aeroplanes
8226; Keep your distance from people who have a cold or cough
8226; Use an insect repellent when outdoors
8226; Include Vitamin C-rich foods in your diet and increase your intake of ginger and garlic