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Soddy, you god doo zpeag ub a liddle. Gan`d ear you dhrough dis bounding in my `ead. The only way to decipher that is by dislodging that terrible cold from this poor victim`s body. But here`s a rough translation: Sorry, you got to speak up a little. Can`t hear you through this pounding in my head.

The common cold. More than 200 different viruses are responsible for that. As a result, you get sick, you get tired muscles, a stuffy nose, sore throat, headaches, and a terrible accent. Some difficult to pronounce synonyms for the common cold are Upper respiratory infection and Acute nasopharyngitis.

Less serious than the flu, colds plague people year round. Typically, colds start to exhibit symptoms one to three days after infection. A cold begins with a sore throat and discomfort in the nose. As the cold progresses you`ll start sneezing, coughing, developing a runny nose, and feeling generally ill. Sometimes a slight fever may develop when symptoms start surfacing. Initially, secretions from the nose are clear and watery; as the cold progresses they tend to become thick, opaque, and yellow-green in colour. Most cold viruses are quite contagious via the air - when someone coughs or sneezes - and direct contact with fingers or tissues that have been exposed to the virus. It is very important to try to limit this type of contact when suffering from a cold.

The best way to treat colds is with rest, fluids, and chicken soup. Yes, the chicken-soup connection has finally been studied, and chicken soup (the spicier the better, so toss in a few hot peppers) does indeed help treat the symptoms of the common cold. So curl up with a warm blanket and a hot bowl of soup, followed by a nice long nap. You`ll be back on your way to being healthy in no time.

Antibiotics have no place in the treatment of viral infections.If symptoms persist beyond two weeks or get worse, it may be necessary to consult your doctor as you may be dealing with a bacterial rather than a viral infection. Some colds can lead to a bacterial infection of the ears, sinuses, windpipe, and airways. These infections may require antibiotic treatment. Individuals with persistent bronchitis or asthma may find breathing more difficult when dealing with a cold, and thus may need earlier attention from their doctor. It is still unknown why some people get colds and others don`t. People experiencing fatigue or emotional distress are more likely to contract a cold, as are those with poor hygiene. It is believed that the best way to prevent a cold is to get adequate rest and remember to wash your hands frequently.

What you have to deal with

Colds usually run their course in four to 10 days, though most people experience the cough for a bit longer as the body and cough reflex area recovers from the viral irritation to the tissues. Sometimes complications can arise, such as bacterial infections of the ears, throat, sinuses, or lungs that require medical attention and antibiotics. Other signs that indicate you should see a doctor:

• Difficult or painful breathing
• Persistent fever and chills
• Earache
• Severe headache.
• Enlarged and tender lymph nodes in the neck

Cold medications and cough suppressants can make you more comfortable during the course of a normal cold, but they cannot `cure` a cold. There is no cure for the common cold.

Symptoms

Most symptoms of the common cold are associated with irritation of the respiratory passages - nasal and sinus congestion, sore throat, headache, sneezing, mild fever, often accompanied by chills, dry coughing with little or no sputum, general muscle and body aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and watery eyes.