Common, Cold, inluenza, flu, coryza,

Pharmacy Clinic

Common Cold

Upper respiratory tract

The human respiratory system is an important defense against inhaled
organisms and pollutants. Two mechanisms work together to protect against
infections. The goblet cells secrete thick mucus that lines our inner respiratory
tract. Ciliated cells move the mucus upward along with embedded inhaled
organisms, pollutants, and allergens until it is swallowed or expectorated.
However, inhaling the cooler, drier air of winter slowly desiccates the mucus
layer until it becomes too thick to be easily mobilized by the cilia.

As a result, inhaled organisms are more likely to cause respiratory diseases.
Thus, the pharmacist fields many questions about various respiratory
diseases during winter months. People often ask their pharmacist to render an
opinion about the potential gravity of an infection. Does a person have a cold
or "the flu"? Could it be pneumonia? How do the three differ?

Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold

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Tylenol Cold Multi-Symptom Nighttime Caplets, Cool Burst

Contac Cold & Flu, Day & Night Dual Formula Pack

Sudafed PE Non-Drowsy, Multi-Symptom, Cold & Cough, Coated Caplets

Sine Off Sinus/Cold Medicine, Caplets

Sine Off Maximum Strength, Non-Drowsy Caplets

Exercise Diet Sliming products Benefits of weight loss Obesity

Acne Clinical Features Acne Therapy Acne and Benzoyl Peroxide Acne and Salicylic Acid Acne and

Vitamin A Acne and Isotretinoin Acne Treatment Devices

The nose is a respiratory organ, the nasal cavity is divided by a central
septum and finger like projections (turbinates) that extend into the cavity,
increasing the nasal surface area.

Under normal conditions, foreign bodies such as dust, bacteria, powder and
oil droplets are trapped in the film and carried out of the nose into the
nasopharynx. The turbinates facilitate this action by causing many eddies in
the flowing air, forcing it to rebound in different directions before finally
completing its passage through the nose.

The nasopharyngeal vascular bed is controlled by both sympathetic and
parasympathetic autonomic nervous system; stimulation of the sympathetic
fibers causes decreased activity of the mucus glands and vasoconstriction
that reduces the size of the turbinates, widening the airway.

Parasympathetic stimulation increases mucus production and narrows the
airways by vasodilation and vascular engorgements of the mucosal tissue

Treatment may be directed towards eliciting the sympathetic response or
blocking parasympathetic response or both.

Defense mechanisms:

1)        The cilia on the epithelium surface of the passageways is continuously beating to
move the mucus into the nasopharynx, carrying with it trapped particles to be
expectorated or swallowed. It is one of the main defense mechanisms in the body, care
should be taken to avoid agents that impair this movement; mineral oil, overuse of
topical decongestants may interfere with this mechanism

2)        The mucus is rich in lysozymes and contains glycoproteints and immunoglobulins.
lysozymes are important defense mechanism against bacteria because they readily digest
the lipid and carbohydrate cell wall of some bacteria and are responsible for digestion of
the cell wall of pollens and the subsequent release of antigenic substances. Mucus
glycoproteins may inhibit some viruses temporarily by combing with the virus protein coat.

3)        IgA and IgM are also present which decrease the infectivity of certain viruses.

4)        Viruses attach to and invade respiratory tract host cells stimulate the infected cell
to produce interferon. Interferon is a polyclonic anti virus.

5)        Cough reflex is an essential body defense mechanism by which the respiratory
airways leading to the lungs are kept free of foreign matter. It occurs in health as well as
disease. The airways contains mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors that stimulate
cough by carrying the impulses to the cough center in the medulla. Localized
bronchoconstriction also may play an important role in the stimulation of the cough reflex

6)        Sneezing reflex is very similar to cough reflex except that it is intended to clear
the nasal passages instead of the lower respiratory tract. Irritation in the nasal passage
initiates sneeze

More about etiology and
causes common cold

More about treatment
of common cold

N asal Decongestants