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Common cold

Guidelines

Key sources

The following summarized guidelines for the management of common cold are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP 2019), the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP 2017), the American College of Physicians (ACP/CDC 2016), and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA 2015).
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Medical management

Cold medications: as per AAFP 2019 guidelines, prescribe OTC analgesics and decongestants with or without antihistamines (but not antihistamine alone) in adult patients with symptoms of common cold.
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  • Cough medications

  • NSAIDs

  • Antibiotics

Nonpharmacologic interventions

Nasal saline irrigation: as per AAFP 2019 guidelines, advise performing saline irrigations in pediatric patients (≥ 1 year old) with common cold.
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  • Honey

  • Menthol rub

Preventative measures

Hand hygiene: as per AAFP 2019 guidelines, advise using hand sanitizers or washing hands for the prevention of common cold.
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