common cold
Let an agent explain the common cold and its causes in general terms from public health sources, describe symptoms, spread and self-care, distinguish colds from influenza, COVID-19 and allergies, and route worsening or prolonged illness to clinicians.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the common cold and its causes in general terms from public health sources, describe symptoms, spread and self-care, distinguish colds from influenza, COVID-19 and allergies, and route worsening or prolonged illness to clinicians.
A mild, self-limiting viral infection of the nose and throat caused by more than 200 viruses, most often rhinoviruses and also coronaviruses, adenoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus, causing runny nose, sore throat, cough and sneezing for about a week, sometimes as prolonged colds lasting longer; the common cold is the most frequent human infectious disease, spreads by droplets and contact, has no cure or vaccine, and is managed with rest and symptom relief.
What it is for: Not applicable; a disease.
It can be explain causes and spread; relay symptoms and self-care; distinguish from flu and allergies; route worsening illness.
Distinguishing features
Many viruses
Mild and self-limiting
Most common infection
No cure or vaccine
What it looks like
Not a visible object; a runny nose and sneezing.
Physical character
adult colds per year: about 2-3 count
duration: about 7-10 days
causative viruses: over 200 count
How it is recognised
Mild viral upper respiratory infection
Rhinovirus, coronavirus, adenovirus, RSV and metapneumovirus colds; prolonged colds
Influenza is more severe with fever and aches; allergic rhinitis is not infectious; sinusitis may follow a cold
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms, for rhinovirus colds
is contrasted with - which is more severe
In practice
Families and kinds
rhinovirus colds
coronavirus colds from seasonal coronaviruses
adenovirus, RSV and metapneumovirus infections presenting as colds
prolonged colds
colds in children and older adults
Identifiers
ICD-11 CA00 acute nasopharyngitis
MeSH D003139 common cold
Standards and regulation
Public health guidance on respiratory infections
Antibiotic stewardship guidance
Regulation of over-the-counter cold remedies
Failure modes and hazards
Unnecessary antibiotics
Missing more serious illness
Agents giving personal medical advice
Unproven remedies
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Help When to seek care.
Safety.
Warning
Warning signs.
Warning
Warning.
- Which signs, such as breathing difficulty, high fever, chest pain or symptoms in infants and vulnerable people, need medical care? action
- Is the user describing such signs, which need a clinician or emergency services? boundary
Self-care
Self-care.
Self-care
Self-care.
- What self-care do health services advise for a cold? action
- Is the user asking about their own or a child illness beyond general advice, which needs a clinician? boundary
Understand The illness.
Clinical.
Causes
Causes and spread.
Causes
Causes.
- What viruses cause colds, and how do they spread? definition
- Is the question about a cold, influenza, COVID-19 or allergies? boundary
Course
Symptoms and course.
Course
Course.
- What symptoms occur, how long do they last, and what are prolonged colds? definition
- Which entry fits the specific virus? action
Prevent Prevention and treatment.
Public health.
Prevention
Prevention.
Prevention
Prevention.
- How do hand hygiene and other measures reduce colds, with evidence attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Treatment
Treatment and remedies.
Treatment
Treatment.
- What does evidence say about cold remedies, zinc, vitamin C and antibiotics, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Context Research and history.
Context.
Research
Research.
Research
Research.
- Why is there no cold vaccine, and what research continues? provenance
- Which entry fits rhinovirus research? action
History
History.
History
History.
- How was the cold studied, including the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of virology? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should rhinovirus and metapneumovirus be separate primary entries?
- How should public health guidance be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming another virus infection; should it be split off?