Almost every body suffers from common cold and there is no drug for cure it. Common cold is caused by two viruses namely Rhinoviruses and Coronaviruses. The virus starts to replicate within 8-10 hours after initial contact and it takes 7-10 days to recover from major symptoms of common cold. People who are taking drugs like crocin or paracetamol might think that it could cure common cold but the fact is that there is no such drug that could reduce the recovery time of common cold infection. Drugs like paracetamol are called antipyretic and these types of drugs can only help to reduce certain symptoms of common cold but doesn’t practically fight against the virus.

Types of antipyretic drugs
Some other types of antipyretic drugs include ibuprofen, aspirin and some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which are mainly used to reduce pain. Pain is caused as a result of the two inflammatory enzymes called COX1 and COX2. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen inhibit the release of COX1 and COX2, which indirectly reduces the pain. But there are certain disadvantages from taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and one main reason is that these drugs could damage the inner lining of the stomach by inhibiting the release of COX1. The COX1 protects the stomach but in the absence of COX1 the stomach could face serious problems including acidity. That’s why regular use of the NSAIDs could cause stomach ulcers. Now paracetamol inhibits the enzyme COX3 which is responsible for fever. Fever is very important because it activates the immune system and our body starts the war against any infection only with fever.

Therefore, in the absence of fever, there is a possibility that a virus could cause serious damage to our body. Therefore, there are many disadvantages of taking antipyretic drugs and taking them regularly could cause serious damage to our body. It’s a good idea to improve our immune system by taking Vitamin C during winter season and gargling with warm salt water to fight against common cold naturally.

Interferon-alpha was used to treat viral infection caused by the Rhinoviruses but there were reports of severe side-effects like nose bleeding and is no more recommended for use. No vaccine is available for common cold and the only thing that can fight against the virus is our immune system.

Some doctors might recommend antibiotics like Azithral (Azithromycin) but the fact is that antibiotics are made to fight against bacterial infections. Antibiotic can’t kill viruses and that’s why it’s worthless to take antibiotic in any viral infection. Only a proper antiviral drug can kill a virus and can cure a viral infection but unfortunately there are such antiviral drugs available in the market to kill the common cold viruses.

Common cold is a communicable disease and it can spread through air but the air must be suitable for the virus to survive. Viruses are like parasites and needs a host organism to survive. Therefore, a common cold virus can’t stay on solid objects for a long time like bacteria and it can’t contaminate like a bacteria. The only possible way common cold virus can spread is from direct contact with the infected host organism. If one person is infected and sneezes then another person who is within his range can also get infected. When a person sneezes the tiny droplets of mucus comes out of the nose and spreads in the air and these droplets carry the common cold virus. Another person who is breathing the air inhales these droplets and then the virus enters into his respiratory system. Common cold virus infects the upper respiratory system and that’s why no one suffers from breathing problems. If someone gets a breathing problem along with cold fever then it should not be considered as common cold and must seek immediate medical help.

A virus carries the genetic information of the host and can modify itself to fight against the immune system of other host of similar genes. Some viruses can be created in labs and are called synthetic virus. Such viruses are also used as a weapon to infect suspected enemies. The swine-flu epidemic of 2009 was also thought to be caused by a synthetic virus developed in a lab and was responsible for killing so many people. UN scientists found that the swine-flu virus of 2009 was modified from Ebola and HIV virus. Usually Swine flu is transmitted from pigs to human but that was not the case of 2009 swine-flu epidemic because the virus was transmitting from person to person. American scientists used the genetic material of other flu virus and created a new synthetic virus which will replicate like swine flu and all this happened in the laboratories at the Fort Detrick military base as reported by the UN scientists. Swine flu is not a common cold virus but is an Influenza virus. An Influenza virus is more dangerous than the common cold viruses and is capable of causing epidemic deaths.

Herbal remedies to tackle common cold
From centuries human beings are facing common cold every year and in the ancient times people have used herbal remedies to tackle common cold. Among all the herbal medicines honey and lemon are most effective. Honey can reduce the nasal congestion and gives relief from cough. Lemon contains ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) and it helps to boost the immune system. Taking lemon tea is a good idea in handling common cold but taking lemon juice is not advisable. Garlic and ginger are also good herbs for common cold. A Chinese herb called Astragalus is also used to boost the immune system during common cold. However there are no such herbs that could kill the virus of common cold but can only help to boost the immune system.

However, there are antiviral and vaccination available to control influenza but unlike influenza, medical science is still helpless in curing common cold. No matter what we try we can’t find any short cuts to get the common cold virus out of our body in a day and all we can do is endure.