Common Cold Treatment

There is no cure for the common cold. The usual treatment is to address the symptoms. Over-the-counter drugs may be used to help ease cold symptoms. Some of the most commonly used products dry up runny noses and calm troublesome coughs. But these drugs only alleviate cold symptoms and do not cure the illness. 

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are effective for pain relief. Antibiotics do not help relieve the common cold, as they do not affect viruses. They should be used only in cases of bacterial complications. In some cases the common cold may cause bacterial infections (otitis and sinusitis) that involve the ears and the sinuses.  Antibiotics should only be taken in these cases.
 
Many people  believe that vitamin C helps prevent a cold, but it has not been definitively proven to be effective.  However, vitamin C does help ease cold symptoms.
 
More than adults, children suffer from frequent colds. Before administering any drugs to children under 12, a physician should be consulted.  
 
 In general, some simple rules should be followed to help recover from a common cold:

• Drink as much liquid as possible (water, tea, chicken broth, orange juice).
• Rest.
• Wash your hands frequently (to avoid spreading the virus).
• Try to keep an adequate humidity level in the room (the virus is more aggressive when the humidity is low).