Can coronavirus be asymptomatic?

The occurrence of a cold

Colds are caused by viruses or bacteria, which cause respiratory illnesses. The immediate source of infection is a sick person. Infection does not always occur, since the immune system neutralizes pathogens in a short time. You can only get sick when the number of microbes in the air is high, immunity is reduced, and the body is not able to cope with the increased load on its own. There are different opinions about whether seasonal colds are contagious.

Sore throat or rhinitis is provoked by staphylococcus found in the human nasopharynx. From hypothermia of the body or weakening of the immune system, it immediately begins its intensive reproduction. This can lead to a disease that spreads from person to person. However, viruses can be transmitted over very short distances through the air. Sometimes, colds are aggravated by chronic infections.

Within 24 hours, one viral particle can multiply up to 16 million. Therefore, it is better not to start treatment and it is most effective at the beginning of the disease.

What to do when your child coughs

If you have a paroxysmal infectious cough that gets worse at night, you should definitely visit a doctor to identify the causes of this condition. In the course of treatment of such a cough, antitussives, antihistamines and antibiotics, for example, erythromycin, are often used.

When a child begins to have a coughing attack, he should be placed in such a way as to facilitate the passage of sputum. From time to time it is worth tapping the chest area lightly with the edge of your palm. In this case, it is advisable for the child to lie on his stomach on the parents’ lap with his head bowed. This helps remove accumulated mucus from the bronchi.

Infection in any part of the respiratory system can lead to coughing. However, if there is difficulty breathing and the mouth area turns blue, you should immediately call an ambulance.

How does infection occur?

The basis of the disease is always an infectious factor transmitted airborne. For the disease to develop it is necessary:

• entry of microbes into the respiratory system;
• unstable immunity;
• certain conditions for the development of a cold.

Most cold viruses can be transmitted to humans through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth. For the proliferation of microbes, snot is the most suitable environment. Sneezing, which is a natural reaction to irritation of the mucous membrane, helps them spread any infection.

How is a cold transmitted when infected?

1. By airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing).
2. Through shared objects (dishes, towel, door handle, telephone).
3. Through a handshake (personal contact).
4. Through a kiss and during communication.
5. In areas with large crowds of people (school, public transport, kindergarten, office).

Cold symptoms

When the body cannot cope with the infection, the disease becomes contagious. The first signs of the disease appear after communicating with a virus carrier:

• A sore throat and sore throat are accompanied by pain when swallowing. Sometimes they are accompanied by a cough (dry, wet or barking);
• Runny nose. The onset of inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract, frequent sneezing. Snot appears, which makes breathing difficult and can be transparent to yellow-green streaked with blood;
• Temperature increase. It rises to 38°C and lasts for several days. Sometimes, a cold occurs without fever. In this case, the doctor quickly identifies acute respiratory infections, acute respiratory viral infections and prescribes treatment;
• Weakness, body aches, drowsiness, loss of appetite. Viruses release substances that are toxins for the human body. It is intoxication that manifests itself as a general malaise;
• Headache. Caused by swelling and oxygen starvation. Snot accumulates in the nasal sinuses, which increases the pain every time the body bends forward;

A person with a cold becomes contagious within two days. You should take care of your own health as soon as symptoms of illness appear.

Allergic cough

A night cough that does not bother the baby during the day may be the result of an allergy. This is how the body reacts to some external stimuli. Cough due to allergies can also occur during the daytime when in contact with an allergen, these can be:

• dust;
• pet hair;
• certain smells;
• bloom;
• medications;
• some products;
• detergents.

Almost all people think that allergies are completely safe. But it is not so. When an allergy occurs, a person experiences irritability, fatigue, and decreased immunity.

Often, after a past illness affecting the respiratory tract, children develop a cough after running or while lying down. This syndrome is called residual cough. This is due to a large amount of accumulated mucus in the nasopharynx; such a cough is not at all contagious.

This is how children’s physiology works that during the illness, the tonsils, adenoids and lymph nodes increase in size and do not immediately become the same after recovery. To do this they need a lot of time. Therefore, when you hear a cough from a stranger, you can take it calmly.

An exception is a paroxysmal dry cough, a cough with gagging and copious mucus production.

If a coughing child goes to kindergarten, but is under the supervision of the attending physician, then he is healthy. The doctor will never release infected children into the children's group. A child may cough severely due to chronic or genetic non-contagious diseases.

How to protect yourself from infection?

To avoid catching a cold and getting sick, you must take the following preventive measures:

1. Respiratory protection. For these purposes, 3 methods are used: daily rinsing of the nose, using a gauze mask, oxolinic ointment.
2. Hygiene. It is necessary for you, including the sick person, to frequently wash your hands with soap and treat them with an antiseptic. Do not share utensils and household items, and the infected family member should, if possible, resort to disposable handkerchiefs.
3. Avoiding contact with the sick, avoiding places with possibly large crowds of people. If there is a sick person at home, isolate him in another room, which is periodically ventilated.
4. Wet cleaning. Carry out this constantly, and also, if necessary, treat all surfaces with disinfectant solutions.
5. Strengthening the immune system. Vitamins, decoctions of medicinal herbs and berries will help protect against respiratory ailments.

Contrary to popular belief, it is possible to kiss someone who has a cold. Although transmission of viruses and bacteria occurs through kissing, the risk of infection is low. Kissing someone with a cold is less dangerous than touching contaminated surfaces with your hands.

The pediatrician explained how long a child with a runny nose and cough is contagious

How often can you see children with a cough and runny nose on the playground or in kindergarten. Mothers of healthy babies are indignant, since children with signs of acute respiratory infections and acute respiratory viral infections can be contagious. This leads to disputes and quarrels.

Pediatrician Anastasia Starostina brings clarity to the question of how long a child with a runny nose and cough is contagious.

Most often, a cough and runny nose are a symptom of ARVI, explains the doctor. — Isolation of the virus occurs within 7-10 days, for adenovirus the period is longer, up to 12-14 days.

Nasal discharge without congestion can last up to 14-21 days. With each week the discharge is less and less frequent. The cough lasts up to 3-4 weeks. It turns out that virus shedding is complete, but the cough/runny nose continues. A snotty and coughing child is active, has a normal temperature, his nose breathes well, he feels good, his appetite is the same. Such a child does not pose a danger or threat to a group of healthy children.

In terms of infection, people are most dangerous 2-3 days before the onset of the disease and in the first 3-4 days after the onset of ARVI, emphasizes pediatrician Anastasia Starostina.

And since caring mothers strive to protect their children from potential infection, pediatrician Olesya Butuzova recommends regular nasal rinsing. This is a good remedy for the prevention of acute respiratory diseases. Cleansing the sinuses has the best effect using a water-salt solution, which you can buy at the pharmacy or prepare yourself at home.

Recipe for making saline solution

For 250 ml of water you need 1 level teaspoon of salt. The water should be at room temperature so as not to cool or overheat the mucous membranes. After preparing the solution, taste it - it should be soft and similar to the taste of sea water. After checking, you can start washing.

The solution for children under 3 years of age should be especially soft, so take 1 liter of water for 1 teaspoon of salt.

Use regular salt, not iodized salt, as it can cause irritation of the mucous membranes, dryness, and discomfort in the child's nose.

Do you walk with your child when he has a runny nose or cough?

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Simple Treatment Methods

It must be remembered that by being hypothermic, people become susceptible to the action of pathogenic microbes. Regardless of the severity of a cold, you should consult a doctor.

For respiratory diseases, it is recommended to avoid self-administration of antibiotics. The body itself must cope with a cold. It is most advisable to treat with anti-cold medications with a general strengthening effect. Before deciding whether to use antibiotics for a cold or not, you must follow the basic principles of treatment: bed rest for several days, warm, plenty of fluids.

Colds, runny nose, cough can be cured with both medications and traditional medicine:

• Cough, sore throat - gargling with decoctions, steam inhalations, heated milk with butter to disinfect and relieve inflammation.
• Runny nose - rinse the nose with salted water and instill vasoconstrictor medications. In the absence of fever, foot baths with mustard work well. They help destroy viruses, relieve inflammation, dry and reduce the amount of mucus secreted. A runny nose can also be treated well by breathing over finely chopped onions.
• The temperature can be brought down by applying cool compresses to the head, rubbing with vinegar or vodka diluted 50% with water.

Non-contagious cough

So is residual cough contagious or not? It also happens that the disease is left behind, but the cough remains. As a result, the child remains on sick leave, and the parents, instead of working, sit at home with the baby. A dry, infrequent cough without fever or any other additional symptoms does not indicate the presence of the disease. This phenomenon is called residual cough. Coughing can last 1-2 weeks without causing any discomfort to the baby.