November 13, 2002, The Chronicle, Montreal's West Island Community Newspaper

Washing hands can prevent a cold

BY BARBARA LAVOIE

It seems everywhere we go we hear people sniffing, sneezing and coughing. Almost as inevitable as snow in Montreal, you or someone you know will suffer from a cold this winter.

Many days of work and school are missed and millions of dollars are spent every year on over-the-counter remedies due to the symptoms of the common cold.

Often people believe they have the flu, when they really have a cold. Dr. Jane Wilson, a Pointe Claire family physician, sets the record straight. "A cold and the flu are very different. With a cold you can go to work - it's minor. But, with the flu, you feel like you've been hit by a truck," she said.

What is a cold? The common cold is a virus that causes inflammation of the lining of the nose, sinuses and throat. Hundreds of viruses are responsible for the group of symptoms we call the common cold, so it is possible to get one cold after another because each one is a different virus. You build up immunity to a specific cold virus once you’ve had it, but there are many different cold viruses out there. Adults tend to have fewer colds than children because adults have developed immunity to some of the viruses. Outbreaks of the common cold are most frequent during the winter months, but they can occur any time of the year.

What are the symptoms? Cold symptoms include: runny and/or stuffed-up nose; sneezing; coughing; scratchy throat; sore throat; laryngitis; itchy eyes; fever (usually very mild); feeling tired; and headache.

How is a cold virus spread? Cold viruses are spread by: 1) breathing in droplets that have been sneezed or coughed out into the air by a person who has a cold; 2) coming in direct contact with the nose, mouth or eyes of a person who has a cold (kissing); or 3) touching things contaminated by droplets containing the cold virus (handshakes, telephones, light switches, office equipment, towels, tissues) and then carrying the virus to your nose, mouth or eyes where it enters your body.

Note: Droplets do not remain in the air for long. You can catch a cold if someone sneezes or coughs close to you, not if they sneeze or cough across the room. But cold viruses do survive for hours on objects and surfaces. Destroy cold viruses by washing surfaces with hot, soapy water or a disinfectant solution containing bleach.

When can I catch a cold from someone else? A person with a cold is usually considered infectious for one day before the cold symptoms are noticed until five days after the cold starts.

Is there a cure? Like other viral illnesses, there is currently no cure for the common cold.

How can I prevent getting a cold? Here’s some straightforward advice on prevention from Denise L’Anglais, a nurse at the CLSC Pierrefonds, "Keep healthy, get plenty of rest, eat well, avoid people who are ill and wash your hands often. You get a cold by coming in contact with the cold virus. You don’t get a cold by not being properly dressed outside or catching a draught.”

In addition, do not share drinking or eating utensils with people who have a cold. Buy a new toothbrush after your cold is over. Care for your immune system by eating nutritious meals, getting adequate rest and controlling your level of stress.

Source: Calgary Health Region web site – www.crha-health.ca/hlthconn/items/colds.htm