How are colds transmitted?

Cold is the most common symptom in life. Cold has a certain degree of self-limitation. Generally, through treatment and conditioning, it can be significantly improved within seven days. There are many causes of colds, and colds are also contagious. Its contagiousness is mainly transmitted through body fluids and droplets. For example, sneezing can easily cause infection. People with colds living in the same room or eating together may cause infection.

How are colds transmitted?

1. Viral influenza infection

Characteristics: sneezing, runny nose (clear runny nose), cough (dry cough, no sputum), blood test results generally show that the white blood cell index is not high.

Transmission route: The patient's mucus, saliva and sputum contain the virus, which is spread into the air through sneezing, coughing and talking, infecting others. Healthy people may also get sick by being infected with the virus due to contact with the patient's towels, washbasins or tableware.

2. Bacterial cold infection

Characteristics: runny nose (thick and yellow mucus), swollen tonsils, cough (coughing up yellow phlegm), and fever.

Transmission route: The virus exists in the patient's respiratory tract and is transmitted to others through droplets when the patient coughs or sneezes. It is highly contagious.

3. Mycoplasma infection

Characteristics: The symptoms of mycoplasma infection are similar to those of viral colds, and the incubation period is generally 1 to 3 weeks. The onset of the disease is diverse. Most patients only suffer from low fever and fatigue, while some patients may experience sudden high fever accompanied by obvious systemic symptoms such as headache, muscle pain and nausea. The most prominent respiratory symptom is dry cough.

Transmission route: Mycoplasma pneumonia is mainly transmitted through droplets.

New way colds are transmitted

1. Hands are the main carriers of colds

Studies have found that cold viruses can survive on a handkerchief for one hour and on your hands for 70 hours. The hands of people with colds usually have a large number of cold viruses, which are then spread to others through handshakes, using towels, etc. Therefore, you should wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your nose or eyes with your hands. In particular, you should be careful not to shake hands with people who have a cold and not share towels or washbasins with patients.

2. Cold feet are more susceptible to colds

The feet are far from the heart, have relatively less blood supply, and are very sensitive to cold. Generally speaking, when the temperature drops below 7 ℃, the feet will become cold, which can easily induce a decrease in respiratory resistance and reflexively cause nasal mucosal blood vessels to contract, making it easy to catch a cold. To this end, keeping your feet warm can help prevent colds.