A runny nose that later gets blocked — that’s a symptom of the common cold, a very frequent illness that tends to affect our respiratory tract especially during winter.
The common cold is a mild viral infection that affects the inner lining of the nose, known as the nasal mucosa. This mucosa secretes fluid to constantly humidify the air we breathe and to defend against pathogens. When irritated, it swells and produces more secretions than usual.
Colds occur mostly in winter, but cold weather is not the cause. In France alone, over 58 million cases are reported annually.
A cold often begins with a tingling sensation in the nose and dryness, sometimes accompanied by sneezing and watery eyes. A clear, heavy nasal discharge follows. Then, the nose becomes blocked and the secretions may thicken — this is part of the normal course. If the mucus drains into the throat, it can cause a sore throat or cough.
A cold often begins with a tingling sensation in the nose and dryness, sometimes accompanied by sneezing and watery eyes. A clear, heavy nasal discharge follows. Then, the nose becomes blocked and the secretions may thicken — this is part of the normal course. If the mucus drains into the throat, it can cause a sore throat or cough.
A cold often begins with a tingling sensation in the nose and dryness, sometimes accompanied by sneezing and watery eyes. A clear, heavy nasal discharge follows. Then, the nose becomes blocked and the secretions may thicken — this is part of the normal course. If the mucus drains into the throat, it can cause a sore throat or cough.
AMELI. Recognizing adult nasopharyngitis, February 2022. Available at:https://www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/themes/rhinopharyngite-adulte/symptomes (accessed February 17, 2023)
BERTHÉLEMY, Stéphane.Advice to a patient complaining of a cold.Pharmaceutical News, March 2013, No. 524, pp. 45–48. Elsevier Masson SAS. Available at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7132660/ (accessed February 17, 2023)
AMELI. Nasopharyngitis or adult cold: what to do and when to consult?, February 2022. Available at:https://www.ameli.fr/assure/sante/themes/rhinopharyngite-adulte/que-faire-quand-consulter (accessed February 17, 2023)