The recent cold weather has caused a sudden drop in temperature, challenging the body's ability to adapt to outdoor temperatures. For people with weak immune systems, this can lead to colds, fevers, and headaches. So, how do you judge the severity of your cold? In medicine, 38.5℃ is generally considered the boundary between a mild and severe cold. Colds and fevers are caused by viruses 80% of the time and bacteria 20% of the time.
If your temperature does not exceed 38.5℃, you have no thick phlegm, and only sneeze or have a runny nose, there is no need for medication. Just drink more water, rest more, and your cold and fever will naturally disappear within a week. Occasionally catching a cold and having a fever is also a protective mechanism of the body, which helps enhance immunity. Therefore, when you have a fever, don't rush to take medicine to reduce it. It's best to let the fever run its course, and after a few days, you may feel better.
If your temperature exceeds 38.5℃ and you delay treatment, your condition may worsen. Not only will your cold and high fever persist, but it may also lead to other symptoms such as pneumonia or myocarditis. After a viral infection, the body's immunity decreases, making bacterial infections more likely to spread to the lower respiratory tract, causing pneumonia. Generally, the probability of pneumonia is about 5%; secondary myocarditis is mainly caused by the direct invasion of cold viruses into the heart, with a probability of 1%. However, these 5% and 1% should not be underestimated.
Studies show that there are over 200 types of viruses that cause colds, 50% of which are rhinoviruses. These can survive on towels for one hour and on human hands for 70 hours, with an incubation period of 1 to 4 days.
The most direct and effective way to prevent colds is to wash your hands carefully. If there is a cold patient in the house, it is best to use heated vinegar or vinegar essence to evaporate and eliminate the cold virus in the living area.
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