So it’s Monday morning, but you don’t usually feel quite this bad! You wake up a bit more and realise that you have a nasty rough feeling in your throat and a tickle in your nose, and, yes, a headache. A cold, again!

So, what now? Surely there is something that can get rid of all this before it starts, saving you all the misery of thousands of soggy tissues in the Monday sales meeting?

Unfortunately, not really. You may rush off to your friendly GP. If you’re lucky you’ll get some advice ("bed rest and lots of fluids") and a smile. If not, you may be given a load of useless tablets that make you feel woozy and out of your head all day; side effects as bad as the symptoms of the cold itself. And you’re going through your medical aid allowance at an alarming rate.

So what is a cold? Why does it make you feel so bad?

The common cold is caused by viruses, usually rhino or adeno-viruses. These nasty little fellows attach themselves to the membrane on the inside of your nose and throat and cause inflammation, swelling and secretion of fluids. Hence all the soggy tissues and the irritating cough.

What can you do about a cold?

The simple answer is, not a lot. There are medications called antihistamines that will reduce the level of nasal secretions, but they usually leave you feeling as though your brain is somewhere half way down your spinal column.

Decongestant nose drops certainly help and a range can be bought over the counter at reasonable prices. However, don’t fall into the trap of using them for more than a few days at a time. The way they work is to constrict the blood vessels in your nose and so reduce the swelling that causes the blockage. However, what constricts must eventually dilate and, hey presto, your nose is blocked up again.

All is not lost: hot drinks and paracetamol will make you feel a lot better and the really good news is that the cold will cure itself within seven to 10 days.

When to get help

There are times though when you do need to see a doctor. Sometimes a cold can lead to further infections such as sinusitus and chest infections. If you find that you have worsening pain around your eyes, and your teeth feel as though they are trying to jump out of your mouth, then see your GP. If your cough starts to become socially embarrassing, also consult your doctor.

Kids and colds

I’m sure one of the questions you’re dying to ask is "What happens when little Natalie/Rodney or whoever gets a cold?" The answers are the same. Paracetamol syrup (no more than four teaspoons in a day), hot drinks and something like Vicks rubbed on the chest will ease the symptoms.

Children get frequent colds as they are growing up. It’s not uncommon for a child to get eight to 10 colds a year, making it feel as though they always have a cold. This is not abnormal and the constant challenge is one of the ways that the immune system matures.

Danger signals in a child are loss of appetite for more than two or three days, earache, not wanting to swallow, high fever, unusual rashes. If any of these occur, take your child off to the GP.

Flu

Of course, when you are sitting in that Monday morning meeting with your box of tissues feeling like death, someone will call in sick with "flu". So, you think, isn’t that the same as I have?

Actually, no. Influenza, or "flu" is caused by a different class of viruses; the Orthomyxoviridae. After that mouthful it is easier to just remember Influenza A, B etc.

These viruses cause a different set of symptoms altogether. They give you the total body ache (where did that steam roller come from?), high fever, and knowing that there is no way you can get up and go to the bathroom, let alone work. You’ll also have a terrible headache and probably a sore throat.

Again, there is no cure for these other than a few days off work, sleep, hot drinks and, old faithful, paracetamol. Flu also usually lasts from seven to 10 days, but may leave you feeling washed out and weak for up to two weeks afterwards.

Surely you can be vaccinated against this? All the chemists and GPs advertise flu vaccines… These are made with inactivated flu viruses from the previous season’s outbreak. If the viruses that are causing this season’s flu are similar to those from last season, then you have about a 50 to 80 percent chance of being protected against the current flu. Some people swear by them, others never bother and never get flu. When in doubt, ask your GP for advice.


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