Be careful of seasonal cold

Children are especially susceptible to colds in spring.

By Yoon Ja-young

When the season changes, people are susceptible to colds. The first step for protection is washing your hands thoroughly, doctors advise.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, a total of 20.8 million people were treated for upper respiratory infections in 2011, incurring 941.6 billion won in medical costs. The number of patients with the common cold surges between March and April, and between September and October, when seasons change.

“A cold differs from influenza, which often starts with a sudden hike in body temperature, accompanied by pain in the muscles and respiratory symptoms,” said Prof. Lee Hwan-jong at Seoul National University Hospital.

Infection by diverse viruses and bacteria is often the main cause of the upper respiratory infection. Prof. Lee cited rhinovirus and coronovirus as two most common viruses. In infection in children, however, the cause is unknown in around half of the cases, the professor added. People often think that they catch cold when it’s cold, but the cold weather itself isn’t a direct cause of the disease. “The imbalances in body temperature triggered by the cold makes it easier to catch a cold,” the service said in a report. “When the season changes the huge daily temperature range is likely to cause imbalances in body temperature. In March and April, fine dust such as yellow dust from China is common, often stimulating respiratory organs, making them vulnerable to virus infection,” it added.

The professor cited sore throats, headaches, sneezing and a runny nose as the main symptoms. It can be accompanied by muscle pain for the first one or two days. Most patients don’t have a fever, or only a mild fever. The nasal discharge turns thick after one or three days, causing nasal obstruction.

According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, one third of the patients were infants, children and teenagers. “The frequency of cold generally decreases upon an increase in age. It is most common in infants and preschoolers, infecting them between four to eight times a year. In the case of elementary school children, they suffer it on average between two to six times annually,” Prof. Lee said.

In the case of children, they show more serious symptoms as their respiratory organs aren’t fully developed. They tend to have a higher fever and stronger reaction to the same virus compared with adults. They are often accompanied by not only respiratory symptoms but also diarrhea, stomachaches, or vomiting. In the case of infants, ears are also affected, with some going through pain in the ears due to infections of the Eustachian tubes. “The most common complications include inflammation in the middle ear. In the case of babies there is a report that up to 25 percent of patients will go through this.” The professor added that inflammation in the middle ear is more common in latter stages of the cold than the initial stages. Hence, he advised that parents should suspect it when the babies have fever for the second time.

While there is no perfect treatment known for cold, the best prevention is washing hands. “There is no better prevention than washing hands often. Block chances of contacting the virus by washing hands often, and try not to rub or touch the eyes, nose or mouth with hands. During seasonal changes, it is better to have many layers of light clothes instead of one that is too thick, taking them off or putting them on according to the temperature,” the service advises.

Prof. Lee’s additional tips include avoiding crowded areas and maintaining appropriate humidity by turning humidifier or drying laundry indoor as dry air makes respiratory tract dry, increasing the risk of catching cold. “When a person has a fever, they often delay treatment thinking that it is a common cold, but it is important to go immediately to a doctor for an accurate diagnosis as there can be other complications such as pneumonia,” he added.