Beware! THESE Are The 5 Most Common Types of Colds You Need To Watch Out For; The Second One Can Be Life-Threatening
Nov 01, 2024
News
Even though a cold lasts for only around a week, it can be prolonged in young children, older adults, or those with weakened immunity levels
As the weather is transitioning, most people around you may be down with coughs and colds - an upper respiratory infection that affects your nose, throat, and lungs. According to doctors, the common symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, mild headache, and a low-grade fever. Even though it lasts for only around a week or a maximum of ten days, it can be prolonged in young children, older adults, or those with weakened immunity levels.
Experts say there are over 200 viruses that cause a cold however the most common ones include:
Rhinovirus
Studies say rhinovirus cases account for up to 50 per cent of cold cases across the world. While they spread throughout the year - rhinoviruses are most active in the early fall and spring and expand in crowded places like schools and offices.
Symptoms of rhinovirus are usually mild and go away within a week or a maximum of 10 days. The virus causes problems like ear infections, sinus infections, or breathing troubles - especially for those with asthma or allergies.
Coronavirus
It is another common cold – which led to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics say coronaviruses account for about 15 per cent of seasonal colds and usually peak in the winter season.
Like other cold viruses, coronavirus is also mild and lasts only around a week – even though it causes more serious issues, life-threatening issues like pneumonia in those with weak immunity. Doctors advise getting tested if you were exposed to or have symptoms of the COVID-19 virus, as when they become severe, you may need hospitalization.
Enterovirus
Enteroviruses are a group of over 300 viruses which include rhinoviruses, coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and polioviruses – causing a wide range of serious illnesses.
While rhinovirus is the most common cold-causing virus - other enteroviruses like enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) and coxsackievirus also lead to respiratory issues. A few non-respiratory enterovirus illnesses that cause cold-like symptoms include aseptic meningitis and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Human parainfluenza (HPIV)
Human parainfluenza virus or HPIV, which causes sore throat, fever, stuffy nose, and chest pain – leads to both upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory tract infections that severely affect your airways and lungs – especially in children under 5 years of age.
Doctors say there are four types of parainfluenzas - types 1 and 2 – the most common in the fall, while type 3 occurs annually and peaks in the spring and early summer. Types 1 and 3 cause more serious illnesses like croup, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia.
Adenovirus
Adenovirus causes cold symptoms that last longer than colds from rhinovirus – many times lasting weeks or even months. This virus is more common in early spring and winter, though it can occur year-round.
Colds caused by the adenovirus spread easily in daycares, hospitals, and schools.
How to know which type of virus you have?
According to experts, even though knowing which type of virus is causing your cold can be tricky - patterns do provide clues. While a barking cough indicates croup from parainfluenza, a cold with pink eye is mostly the cause of adenovirus - which can last longer than other colds.
A doctor would run tests to detect the virus type, but these tests are not usually necessary unless severe illness or complications develop.
Ways to prevent colds
Even though you cannot totally prevent getting a cold, there are ways and means to reduce the symptoms:
- Avoid close contact with others when sick
- Avoid touching your eyes, face, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Clean and disinfect surfaces you touch often
- Taking supplements like vitamin C, vitamin D, or zinc
- Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue
- Avoid crowded places during peak outbreaks
- Distance yourself from people with colds
- Stay home when sick
- Wash your hands often with soap and water
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