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“Prevention matters most with a cold.”
The common cold is a respiratory illness caused by a variety of viruses, and the most common route of infection is droplet transmission, mainly through coughing or sneezing.
Contact transmission can also occur via an infected person's hands or contaminated objects, so proper handwashing and cough etiquette are important.
Besides viral infection, factors such as individual immunity, seasonal weather changes and age also affect the onset of a cold.
Cold vs. coronavirus
"A cold starts in the nose; COVID-19 begins with symptoms similar to a cold, but is marked by loss of smell and taste and difficulty breathing, and can affect the whole body."
| Common cold | COVID-19 | |
|---|---|---|
| Causes | Mainly rhinovirus, adenovirus and the like | SARS-CoV-2 virus |
| Main symptoms | Runny nose, nasal congestion, sore throat, mild fever, cough | High fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of smell and taste, difficulty breathing, etc. |
| Intensity | Relatively low (work and daily life possible) | Moderate or higher: daily life becomes impossible |
| Treatment | Mostly resolves on its own (Conservative treatment) |
Mild: spontaneous recovery + symptomatic treatment Moderate or higher: active treatment such as antivirals |
| Risk of complications | Relatively low | Risk of severe progression such as pneumonia, respiratory failure and cardiovascular complications |
| Recovery period | Recovery within about 5~7 days | Average 7~10 days (severe cases take several weeks or more) |
If cold symptoms persist or worsen, be sure to get an accurate diagnosis from a doctor.
Careful monitoring and early treatment are especially needed for people aged 65 and over, those with chronic illness and the immunocompromised.
"When it is hard to tell from a cold, a diagnostic test (PCR or rapid antigen test) is needed"
How to prevent a cold
Annual vaccination is recommended against influenza (the flu), whose symptoms resemble a cold; adults aged 65 and over and people with chronic illnesses must be vaccinated.
- 1
- Wash your hands thoroughly
- 2
- Wear a mask
- 3
- Enough sleep and fluid intake
- 4
- Ventilate indoors and keep humidity at 40~60%
- 5
- Practice immune-boosting habits
When immunity is low, high-dose vitamin infusion therapy (vitamin C and B complex) can also help prevent colds and relieve fatigue.
However, this may differ depending on your health, so it is safest to consult a specialist first.