What types of colds are there?

Colds are a very common disease in life. Almost everyone has had a cold. There are many types of colds, and most of them are contagious, so everyone must pay more attention to such diseases. Common colds can be divided into common colds, acute viral pharyngitis, herpetic pharyngitis, etc. These are relatively common colds, especially viral colds, which are more contagious. Therefore, patients must also take isolation and disinfection measures during treatment to prevent friends or family members from being infected. The most common symptoms of a cold are nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, etc., which are all relatively common.

Depending on the cause, clinical manifestations may have different types:

1. Common cold

Commonly known as "cold", also known as acute rhinitis, with catarrhal symptoms in the nasopharynx as the main manifestation. Most cases in adults are caused by rhinovirus, followed by parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, echovirus, coxsackievirus, etc. The onset is rapid, with dry throat, itchy throat or burning sensation in the early stage.

A few hours after the upper respiratory tract infection, you may experience sneezing, nasal congestion, and clear watery nasal discharge, which will become thicker after 2-3 days. It may be accompanied by sore throat, and sometimes hearing loss due to Eustachian tube inflammation. It may also cause tearing, dull taste, shortness of breath, hoarseness, and a small amount of coughing. There is generally no fever or systemic symptoms, or only low-grade fever, mild chills and headache. Examination revealed congestion, edema, secretions in the nasal mucosa, and mild congestion in the pharynx.

2. Acute viral pharyngitis and laryngitis

1. Acute viral pharyngitis: mostly caused by rhinovirus, adenovirus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, enterovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, etc. The clinical features are itching and burning sensation in the throat, and cough is rare. Influenza virus and adenovirus infections may cause fever and fatigue. Physical examination revealed obvious congestion and edema of the pharynx. The submandibular lymph nodes are enlarged and tender. Adenoviral pharyngitis may be accompanied by conjunctivitis; when there is odynophagia, it suggests streptococcal infection.

2. Acute viral laryngitis: mostly caused by rhinovirus, influenza A virus, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus. Clinical features include hoarseness, difficulty speaking, cough with pharyngeal pain and fever. Physical examination reveals laryngeal edema and congestion, mild enlargement and tenderness of local lymph nodes, and sometimes wheezing.

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3. Herpetic pharyngitis

It is often caused by Coxsackievirus A, with symptoms of obvious sore throat and fever, and the course of the disease is about one week. Examination revealed pharyngeal congestion, soft palate, uvula, and pharynx

There are grayish white herpes and superficial ulcers on the surface of tonsils, surrounded by red halos. It usually occurs in summer, more often in children and occasionally in adults.

4. Pharyngeal conjunctival fever

It is mainly caused by adenovirus, coxsackievirus, etc. Clinical manifestations include fever, sore throat, photophobia, tearing, and obvious congestion of the pharynx and conjunctiva. The course of the disease is 4-6 days. It often occurs in the summer and is transmitted during swimming. It is more common in children.

5. Bacterial pharyngitis and tonsillitis

It is mostly caused by hemolytic streptococci, followed by Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, etc. The onset is acute, with obvious sore throat, chills, and fever, and the body temperature can reach above 39°C. Examination revealed obvious congestion in the pharynx, enlarged and congested tonsils with purulent secretions on the surface, enlarged and tender submandibular lymph nodes, and no abnormal signs in the lungs.