The cold facts about colds
Dear Dr. Donohue: I would very much like to track down the person who gave me this cold so I can thank him or her. I need some information to do this. How long does it take to start feeling bad after someone passes you the cold germ? How long does a cold last? What can you take for one? How about vitamin C or echinacea? — C.R.
Answer: Trying to find the person who gave you a cold is a waste of time because it’s an impossible task. There are too many people who harbor the virus, and not all of them have the signs of a cold when they pass it on.There are eight large families of cold viruses, and one of these families has more than 100 distinct members.
Sweeping statements about colds don’t hold true for all these viruses. They are mostly passed from person to person by hand contact. Then the newly infected person touches his or her eyes or nose, and a new viral infection begins. Some cold viruses can live on inanimate objects, like a doorknob or a spoon, and they can be picked up there. A third way of spread is the spray that comes from an infected person’s cough or sneeze. Once the virus penetrates the body, symptoms begin in one to four days.
The first ones are a chilly sensation and a vague feeling that all is not well. Then the throat dries and becomes scratchy, the nose becomes stuffy and begins to run, and a person starts to sneeze or cough. Symptoms peak on Day 5 of the illness. By another five days most people are completely better. Decongestants dry runny noses. Pseudoephedrine is an ingredient found in many of them. Over-the-counter antihistamines do the same. Neither vitamin C nor echinacea nor zinc has been conclusively proven to shorten the duration of a cold.
Dear Dr. Donohue: When my son was 11, he had mumps. He is now 27 and is going to be married. I wonder if he will be able to have children after having had the mumps. I have heard that it can make men sterile. I have hesitated to bring this up to him at this time because I don’t want to worry him, but I would appreciate your input. — R.C.
Answer: Mumps rarely results in sterility. In some males, the mumps virus not only infects the salivary glands to produce swollen cheeks, but it can also infect the testicles. Infection of the testicle causes testicular pain, redness and swelling. You would have known if it had happened to your son. He would have told you.
Even if it does happen, it almost never happens to both testicles and it almost never makes a man infertile. There is no reason for you to bring this up to your son.