Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- acute onset
- rhinitis
- sore throat
- sneezing
- postnasal drainage/drip
- cough
- fever
- nonspecific red pharynx
- nasal mucosal edema/erythema
- purulent drainage in nares and posterior pharynx
- pulse <100 bpm; no hypotension
Other diagnostic factors
- malaise
- myalgia
- halitosis
- inflamed tonsils
Risk factors
- exposure to affected individuals
- young age
- winter season
- daycare attendance
- exposure to cigarette smoke or other respiratory irritants
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- no initial test
Investigations to consider
- CBC
- throat swab
- sputum culture
- heterophile antibody test
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- chest x-ray
- sinus CT scan
- viral testing
Treatment algorithm
all patients
Contributors
Authors
Bruce Arroll, MBChB, PhD, FRNZCGP
Professor
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care
University of Auckland
Auckland
New Zealand
Disclosures
BA is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Timothy Kenealy, MBChB, PhD, FRNZCGP
Associate Professor of Integrated Care
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care
University of Auckland
Auckland
New Zealand
Disclosures
TK is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Christopher Cates, MA, FRCGP
Senior Research Fellow
Division of Community Health Sciences
St. George's University of London
London
UK
Disclosures
CC declares that he has no competing interests.
Christopher Del Mar, MA MB, BChir MD, FRACGP, FAFPHM
Professor
Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine
Bond University
Queensland
Australia
Disclosures
CDM declares that he has no competing interests.
An De Sutter, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care
Ghent University
Belgium
Disclosures
ADS declares that she has no competing interests.
Greg Poland, FRCOG
Mary Lowell Leary Endowed Professor
General Internal Medicine
Paediatrics
Mayo Clinic
Rochester
MN
Disclosures
GP has no competing interests in regards to the common cold. He does consult with a variety of manufacturers and performs research studies related to influenza, founded by vaccine manufacturers, none of which involves virus related to the common cold.
Peter Dicpinigaitis, MD
Professor of Clinical Medicine
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Director
Intensive Care Unit
Weiler Division/Montefiore Medical Center
Bronx
NY
Disclosures
PD has served as a consultant to Reckitt Benckiser, Procter & Gamble, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Glaxo SmithKline, and Boehringer Ingelheim.
Differentials
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Hay fever (allergic rhinitis)
- Chronic sinusitis
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment for acute cough associated with the common cold: CHEST expert panel report
- Appropriate antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infection in adults: advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
More GuidelinesPatient leaflets
Common cold
Treating coughs and colds in children
More Patient leafletsCalculators
Sore Throat (Pharyngitis) Evaluation and Treatment Criteria (McIsaac)
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