Cold : symptoms and recipes

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Extract from the article: The common cold, rhinopharyngitis or rhinitis is a harmless infection. It lasts only a few days with simple treatments. However, babies, children, the elderly, people with allergies or low immunity are often exposed to complications. It is better not

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The common cold, rhinopharyngitis or rhinitis is a harmless infection. It lasts only a few days with simple treatments. However, babies, children, the elderly, people with allergies or low immunity are often exposed to complications. It is better not to let it drag on; medical advice is needed.

The harmattan period is a good time to catch a cold. During these times, the air is dry and becomes difficult to breathe. « I have a constant cold, especially during the harmattan period. My nose is blocked, I sometimes have a runny nose. This handicaps me in my work. My body can't stand the coolness and especially the dust. I treat myself by taking antibiotics until I discovered that they have no effect on colds », said Kodjo, a teacher in her thirties living in the Adidogomé district.

The common cold is not trivial

The common cold is an inflammation of the mucous membranes of allergic or viral origin. More than 100 different viruses can cause a cold. A cold is an infection of the nose caused by a virus. The common cold is characterised by nasal symptoms such as runny nose or rhinorrhea, itchy nose in case of allergy, nasal obstruction, or blocked nose with loss of taste, sneezing and sometimes by symptoms in the pharynx, such as sore throat, especially tingling in the throat, itchy throat, difficulty in swallowing; accompanied by general discomfort and sometimes fever in the case of viral colds. The symptoms appear gradually, unlike the flu, and last for 3 to 7 days.

Complications of the common cold are rare: less than 2% of colds. The main complication in adults is acute sinusitis. Only 0.5% to 2% of colds develop into sinusitis.

What treatments are available?

The main aim of treatment is to make the cold less painful by relieving the symptoms. Since the cold is caused by a virus and not by bacteria, antibiotics are not effective. Traditionally, several herbs are used to relieve symptoms and treat colds. These include eucalyptus, ginger, etso pepper, peppermint, and Esrou basil.

Recipe: Peel 1 to 2 pieces of ginger, grate it and infuse it in very hot water for 5 to 10 minutes. Then filter the infusion. Drink 3 times a day.

Raymond DZAKPATA