What are the methods to accelerate recovery from a viral upper respiratory tract infection (URTI)?

From the Guidelines

To improve recovery from a viral cold faster, focus on rest, hydration, and symptom management, with an emphasis on hand hygiene and mask use to prevent transmission, as recommended by the most recent evidence 1.

Key Recommendations

• Get plenty of sleep and take it easy to allow your body to direct energy toward fighting the virus.
• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water daily to thin mucus and prevent dehydration.
• For symptom relief, take over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen (Tylenol) 325-650mg every 4-6 hours for fever and pain, or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) 200-400mg every 6-8 hours, as supported by evidence 1.
• Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) 30-60mg every 4-6 hours can help with nasal congestion, while antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 25-50mg every 4-6 hours may reduce runny nose and sneezing.
• Use saline nasal sprays or rinses to clear congestion, and soothe your throat with warm saltwater gargles (1/4 teaspoon salt in 8oz warm water), as suggested by the European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2020 1.
• Humidifiers add moisture to the air, helping to ease congestion.
• Consume warm liquids like tea with honey and vitamin C-rich foods.
• While supplements like zinc lozenges (taken within 24 hours of symptoms) and vitamin C may modestly reduce cold duration, their effects are generally mild, as noted in the evidence 1.

Prevention of Transmission

• Hand hygiene is strongly recommended to prevent viral transmission, as emphasized by the evidence 1.
• Mask use is also recommended to prevent transmission, particularly in healthcare settings 1.
• Social distancing measures, such as reducing contact with others, can also help prevent transmission, although the evidence is limited 1.

Important Considerations

• Viral colds typically resolve within 7-10 days regardless of treatment, as your immune system naturally fights off the infection.
• It is essential to prioritize rest, hydration, and symptom management to help your body recover from the infection.
• Preventing transmission through hand hygiene, mask use, and social distancing measures is crucial to reducing the spread of the virus.

From the Research

Improving from a Viral Cold Faster

To improve from a viral cold faster, several treatment options are available. These include:

• Over-the-counter analgesics, such as acetaminophen, which may help relieve nasal obstruction and rhinorrhoea, but may not improve other cold symptoms like sore throat, malaise, sneezing, and cough 2
• Nasal decongestants, such as pseudoephedrine, which have been shown to be safe and effective in reducing nasal congestion associated with the common cold 3
• Zinc, which may be beneficial in reducing the duration and severity of cold symptoms 4
• Ipratropium, which can help relieve cough symptoms 4
• Nasal saline irrigation, which can help relieve nasal congestion and promote drainage 4

Treatment Combinations

Some studies have investigated the effectiveness of combination treatments, such as:

• A fixed-dose combination of paracetamol, chlorphenamine, and phenylephrine, which was found to be safe and more effective than placebo in relieving cold symptoms in adults 5
• Combination therapies that include pseudoephedrine, which have been shown to be effective in reducing nasal congestion and improving subjective symptoms of congestion 3

Prevention and Self-Care

In addition to treatment options, preventive measures and self-care practices can help reduce the risk of getting a cold and alleviate symptoms, such as:

• Practicing good hand hygiene to prevent the transmission of cold viruses 4
• Getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated to help the body recover from illness
• Avoiding over-the-counter cold medications in children under four years old, as they can be ineffective and potentially harmful 4