Complications of the Common Cold

The most prevalent infection in humans is the common cold. Usually, it resolves without any complications in about one to two weeks. However, some people get certain complications, which can be serious and long lasting. Therefore, it is important to know the features of the complications because, these patients need antibiotics and other medications to recover.

Sinusitis

Sinuses are air-filled cavities within the bones of the face. They are lined with mucous membranes and connect with the nasal cavity through small openings. Inflammation of these sinuses is known as sinusitis. About two per cent adults and children with the common cold get acute sinusitis. The common cold causes inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nasal cavity as well as the sinuses. Therefore, the mucous membranes secrete more mucous (secretions), which may accumulate in the sinuses. This process is triggered by the obstruction of the sinus openings due to inflammation. Patients with acute sinusitis begin to have a fever, nasal congestion and discharge, cough, headache, facial pain or pressure, facial swelling, and an upper toothache. Usually, headache and facial pain worsen, when they bend forward or are lying down.

Middle ear infection (otitis media)

Your middle ear (the cavity behind the eardrum) connects with the throat through a small tube, which is known as the Eustachian tube. Bacteria or viruses can infiltrate the middle ear via the Eustachian tube in people with the common cold. Usually, 80 % of middle ear infections occur due to viruses. Streptococcus bacterium is responsible for the most bacteria-related otitis media. Otitis media is prevalent among children compared to adults. It occurs in 20 % of children under five years with the common cold. However, about 80 % of otitis media will resolve spontaneously without medication, normally in three days. The patients with otitis media will have severe earache, sleep disturbance, yellow or green nasal discharge, high fever, lethargy, vomiting, ear discharge, and sometimes reduced hearing. Young children, who cannot verbalise, may be restless or cry continuously.

Acute asthma attacks

If you have bronchial asthma, the common cold can trigger acute asthma attacks. It leads to shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough, and wheezing. Acute attacks of bronchial asthma are somewhat common in children.

Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis (chest cold) occurs in some patients with the common cold, who have low immunity. It is an inflammation of the airways resulting from a viral or bacterial infection. Symptoms of acute bronchitis include a cough, production of yellow and thick mucous or sometimes blood stained, chest discomfort, mild fever with chills, fatigue, shortness of breath, wheezing, headache, sore throat, and nasal congestion. Most patients with acute bronchitis recover without medications in a few weeks. If you have features of acute bronchitis or breathlessness for more than seven days, you should consult your physician.

Pneumonia

Rarely, patients with the common cold, who have low immunity, may get pneumonia, which is a severe lower respiratory tract infection. Pneumonia leads to persistent cough, production of thick mucous, breathlessness, high fever with chills, lower body temperature in the elderly or people with low immunity, chest pain when the patient coughs or breathes, sweating, body ache, and headache. Some individuals may have diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. Sometimes, the elderly with pneumonia will have altered levels of consciousness. Infants and newborns may have vomiting, fever, cough, restlessness, being tired, shortness of breath, and difficulty feeding.

If the patient with the common cold has a high fever, confusion or altered levels of consciousness, a sharp chest pain, blood-stained thick mucous, or symptoms lasting more than three weeks, he or she should consult the physician.

Tonsillitis and sore throat

Tonsillitis is an inflammation and swelling of the tonsils. It causes throat pain and occurs due to a viral or bacterial infection (mainly Streptococcus pyogenes). The sore throat is a common complication among the patients with the common cold. Usually, sore throat associated with the common cold is caused by a virus. Some cases of sore throat occur due to bacterial infections, of which Streptococcus infection is the most common. If the sore throat is very painful or is not recovering, it is better to consult a physician. Both tonsillitis and sore throat usually cause difficulty swallowing.

If a child or an adult has at least one of the following features, it is advisable to see the physician because, they may need some antibiotics and other medications.

• Breathlessness

• Earache

• The common cold lasting more than two weeks

• Cough with the production of mucous lasting more than one week

• Worsening common cold symptoms

• Features of sinusitis (pain around the forehead, eyes, and nose) lasting more than one week

• Fever over 102°F (39°C)

• Fever lasting over three days in children aged two or above.

• Fever lasting over one day in children less than two years

• The child is younger than 12 weeks (three months) and fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or above (need to see the doctor immediately)

Related Links:

What Is the Common Cold?
How to Manage Common Cold?
Can You Really Prevent the Common Cold?