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All about the common cold

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The common cold is a viral infectious disease that infects the upper respiratory system. It is also known as acute viral rhinopharyngitis and acute coryza. It is the most common infectious disease in humans and is mainly caused by coronaviruses or rhinoviruses.

Because there are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold, the human body can never build up resistance to all of them. This is why colds are so common and often return. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), adults get 2-3 colds per year and children may have up to 12 per year.

The common cold is contagious; it can be spread by air droplets from coughs and sneezes and by touching infected surfaces. It is contagious from 1–2 days before symptoms begin until the symptoms have stopped.

Fast facts on colds
Here are some key points about colds. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.

  • Common cold symptoms include dry or sore throat, blocked or runny nose, and sneezing.
  • Around a quarter of people do not experience symptoms when infected with a cold.
  • Up to half of common colds are caused by a group of viruses referred to as rhinoviruses.
  • Complications of the common cold include acute bronchitis and pneumonia.
  • People with lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more vulnerable to colds than other people.

The most common symptoms of a cold are:

  • dry throat
  • sore throat
  • cough
  • mild fever
  • sneezing
  • hoarse voice
  • blocked nose
  • mild headache

Causes

The common cold can be caused by more than 200 different viruses. Around 50 percent of colds are caused by rhinoviruses, other cold-causing viruses include:

  • human parainfluenza virus
  • Human metapneumovirus
  • coronaviruses adenovirus
  • human respiratory suncytial virus
  • enteroviruses

When a virus manages to overpower the body’s immune system, infection occurs. The first line of defense is mucus, which is produced in the nose and throat by the mucus glands. This mucus traps anything inhaled, such as dust, viruses, and bacteria. Mucus is a slippery fluid that the membranes of the nose, mouth, throat, and vagina produce.

Prevention

However, there are some precautions that can help avoid catching the common cold. These include:

  • Avoid close contact with someone infected with a cold.
  • Eat plenty of vitamin-rich fruit and vegetables to help keep the immune system strong.
  • When sneezing or coughing, make sure it is done into a tissue. Discard the tissue carefully and wash your hands.
  • If you sneeze into your hands, make sure you wash them with soap and water immediately.
  • If you have no tissues or a handkerchief, cough into the inside (crook) of your elbow rather than your hands.
  • Wash your hands regularly; cold viruses can be transmitted from one person to another by touch. In fact, more germs are passed by shaking hands than by kissing.
  • Keep surfaces in your home clean — especially in the kitchen or bathroom.
  • Avoid touching your face, especially your nose and mouth.

Treatments

It is important to realize that both antibiotics and antiviral medications are ineffective against most viruses that cause the common cold. A cold normally lasts up to 10 days; however, some symptoms can stay as long as 3 weeks.

Although there is no real way of treating or curing a common cold, the following measures may help ease the symptoms:

  • Drink plenty of fluids and keep well hydrated, being dehydrated when infected with a cold can make symptoms worse.
  • Get plenty of bed rest; it is important to get as much sleep/rest as possible while the immune system is fighting off the virus.
  • Take aspirin, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen to relieve headache or fever. Do not give aspirin to children under 16.
  • Some people find that inhaling steam helps ease the symptoms of nasal congestion.

Source: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/166606.php

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Gangrene

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GANGRENE
It is a condition that occurs when body tissue dies is caused by a loss of blood supply due to an underlying illness, injury, and/or infection. Fingers, toes, and limbs are most often affected, but gangrene can also occur inside the body, damaging organs and muscles. There are different types of gangrene and all require immediate medical attention.

Gangrene causes : Blood plays a very important role in your health. Not only does it transport oxygen and nutrients throughout your body to feed cells, it delivers disease-fighting antibodies that protect your body from infection. When blood cannot travel freely throughout the body, your cells cannot survive, infection can develop, and tissue can die from gangrene. Any condition that affects blood flow increases your risk of gangrene, including:

Diabetes
Atherosclerosis
Peripheral arterial disease
Smoking
Trauma or serious injury
Obesity
Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition in which the blood vessels that supply the skin become intermittently narrowed)
Weakened immune system

Gangrene Types
There are two main types of gangrene:

Dry gangrene: More common in people with blood vessel disease, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases, dry gangrene usually affects the hands and feet. It develops when blood flow to the affected area is impaired, usually as a result of poor circulation. In this type, the tissue dries up and may be brown to purplish-blue to black in color and often falls off. Unlike other types of gangrene, infection is typically not present in dry gangrene. However, dry gangrene can lead to wet gangrene if it becomes infected.

Wet gangrene: Unlike dry gangrene, wet gangrene almost always involves an infection. Injury from burns or trauma where a body part is crushed or squeezed can rapidly cut off blood supply to the affected area, causing tissue death and increased risk of infection. The tissue swells and blisters and is called “wet” because of pus. Infection from wet gangrene can spread quickly throughout the body, making wet gangrene a very serious and potentially life-threatening condition if not treated quickly.


Types of wet gangrene include:

Internal gangrene: If gangrene occurs inside the body due to blocked blood flow to an internal organ, then it is referred to as internal gangrene. This is usually related to an infected organ such as the appendix or colon.

Gas gangrene is rare but dangerous. It occurs when infection develops deep inside the body, such as inside muscles or organs, usually as a result of trauma. The bacteria that causes gas gangrene, called clostridia, release dangerous toxins or poisons that wreak havoc throughout the body, along with gas which can be trapped within body tissue. As the condition progresses, the skin may become pale and gray, and make a crackling sound when pressed, due to the gas within the tissue. Gas gangrene warrants immediate medical treatment. Without treatment, death can occur within 48 hours.

Fournier’s gangrene: Also a rare condition, Fournier’s gangrene is caused by an infection in the genital area. Men are affected more often than women. If the infection gets into the bloodstream, a condition called sepsis, it can be life-threatening.

Gangrene Symptoms
You may notice the following symptoms at the site of the dry gangrene:

Dry and shriveled skin that changes color from blue to black and eventually sloughs off
Cold and numb skin
Pain may or may not be present
Symptoms of wet gangrene may include:
Swelling and pain at the site of infection
Change in skin color from red to brown to black
Blisters or sores that produce a bad-smelling discharge (pus)
Fever and feeling unwell
A crackling noise that comes from the affected area when pressed
Internal gangrene usually is painful in the area of the gangrene. For example, a person with gangrene of the appendix or colon would be expected to have severe abdominal pain in the vicinity of the gangrene.

Gangrene Warning
If infection from gangrene gets into the blood, you may develop sepsis and go into septic shock. This can be life-threatening if not treated immediately. Symptoms of sepsis may include:

Low blood pressure
Rapid heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Change in body temperature
Light-headedness
Body pain and rash
Confusion
Cold, clammy, and pale skin

If you think you or a loved one may have sepsis, go to the emergency room immediately.

Treatment for gangrene involves removing the dead tissue, treating and preventing the spread of infection, and treating the condition that caused gangrene to develop. The sooner you receive treatment, the better your chance of recovery. Depending on the type of gangrene, treatments differ.

Surgery: Also called debridement, the dead tissue is surgically removed to prevent the spread of infection. In some situations, amputation (removal of the affected limb, finger or toe) may be required.

Maggot therapy. Believe it or not, maggots still play a role in modern medicine. Maggots provide a non-surgical way to remove dead tissue. When used to treat gangrene, maggots from fly larvae (specially bred in a laboratory so they are sterile) are placed on the wound, where they consume the dead and infected tissue without harming healthy tissue. They also help fight infection and speed up healing by releasing substances that kill bacteria.

Source: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/gangrene-causes-symptoms-treatments#1

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