why cant we cure the common cold?

Question

there is a flu vaccine and antibiotics can cure most ailments, but why can't we cure the common cold?

Answer 1

I have a cure, but it's not for everyone... When I get a cold I eat as much intensely spicy food as possible (I mean so spicy I'm running to the bathroom all night). Turns out the cold virus can't handle spicy food and that will kill it. The next day I'm 100% back to normal. Too bad it doesn't work for the flu....

Answer 2

There is nothing common about the common cold. The virus that causes it is not a stable unchanging thing. It is in constant change so that there are many many different strains at any one time.
also like the term "the flu" what is the "common cold" is not understood by the general public.
Also antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections and not viruses, and more and more strains are becoming resistant to our current antibiotics.
Not all viruses can be stopped by antiviral medication.
As for the flu vaccine. It is a different vaccine every year. Like the common cold the flu is also in constant change. And the doctors and pharmacists are working hard to predict which strain will be the big one in the next season.
Don't worry though there are many scientist trying to study it. In the mean time wash you hands and don't kiss strangers.

Answer 3

Because the common cold can come from a million different virus and germs. It is a fact that once you catch one paticular germ and get that cold, you will never get that exact one again, you system becomes immune to it. The problem is there are literally millions of them floating around, so they can't even narrow down the germ so there is not way to come up with a cure. Antibiotics are not for viral infections (which most colds are) so they can't be used. That is why if you go to the doctor with a cold, they give you things to treat the symptons (eg cough, runny nose ect.) not the actual cold.

Answer 4

Cold remedies: What works If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for about a week. But that doesn't mean you have to be miserable. These remedies may help: * Water and other fluids. You can't flush a cold out of your system, but drinking plenty of liquids can help. Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which make dehydration worse. * Salt water. A saltwater gargle — 1/2 teaspoon salt dissolved in an 8-ounce glass of warm water — can temporarily relieve a sore or scratchy throat. * Saline nasal sprays. Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays combat stuffiness and congestion. Unlike nasal decongestants, saline sprays don't lead to a rebound effect — a worsening of symptoms when the medication is discontinued — and most are safe and nonirritating, even for children. * Chicken soup. Generations of parents have spooned chicken soup into their sick children. Now scientists have put chicken soup to the test, discovering that it does have effects that might help relieve cold and flu symptoms in two ways. First, it acts as an anti-inflammatory by inhibiting the movement of neutrophils — immune system cells that participate in the body's inflammatory response. Second, it temporarily speeds up the movement of mucus through the nose, helping relieve congestion and limiting the amount of time viruses are in contact with the nose lining. So which is better, homemade or canned? Researchers at the University of Nebraska compared homemade chicken soup with canned versions and found that many, though not all, canned chicken soups worked just as well as soups made from scratch. *Over-the-counter cold medications. Nonprescription decongestants and pain relievers offer some symptom relief, but they won't prevent a cold or shorten its duration, and most have some side effects. If used for more than a few days, they can actually make symptoms worse. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that parents avoid such cold medicines for children younger than age 2. And they are evaluating the safety of these medications in older children. Keep in mind that acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause serious liver damage or liver failure if taken in high doses. It's common for people to take Tylenol in addition to flu medications that also contain acetaminophen, which can lead to drug overdoses. Read the labels of any cold medication carefully to make sure you're not overdosing. * Humidity. Cold viruses thrive in dry conditions — another reason why colds are more common in winter. Dry air also dries the mucous membranes, causing a stuffy nose and scratchy throat. A humidifier can add moisture to your home, but it can also add mold, fungi and bacteria if not cleaned properly. Change the water in your humidifier daily, and clean the unit at least once every three days.

Answer 5

You never catch the same cold twice. As you get older, you get you fewer colds. There are too many strains of the rhino virus to cure. Because there are so many, it would be nearly impossible to diagnose which strain you came down with. Therefore, not at all worth the research dollars.

Answer 6

Cold is usually caused by a virus, but viruses have the capability of mutation. When you get a cold, your body immune system starts his defence mechanisms, and, few days later, you usually recover. Your body "memorises" the virus you got, and when the same virus will try to attack your cells, you'll not become ill. Unfortunately, vuruses mutate, that's why your body will need to fight them again. Moreover, there are lots of varieties of viruses that cause cold.

About the flu...yeah, there is a vaccine, but every year you'll need to get vaccinated again, because the influenza virus in also capable of mutation. And, antibiotics are used to fight bacteria, not viruses. Bacteria can be killed by antibiotics, viruses not.

Answer 7

Because the "common cold" you refer to comes in billions of different varieties, there is actually nothing common about it at all. It would be damn near impossible to create all of these vaccines, and even if they could, where would you find the room in a human body to put all of this medicine without causing an overdose?

Answer 8

Hi there,
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Have a nice day

Answer 9

The cold virus has many differnt forms, therefore making it almost impossible to cure.
But one day, when science gets more advance, they'll (hopefully) find a cure.

Answer 10

Rhinoviruses, the primary "cold-causers," are typical of all viruses -- they are not capable of having a life of their own. To make us sick, they must invade, dwell in, and commandeer our cellular machinery. This viral-cellular intimacy makes antibiotics counterproductive. We and the unwelcome virus are so entwined, that if antibiotics killed the virus, they'd also kill our cells. Doubly shrewd, the large numbers and wide variability of these DNA villains make vaccines prohibitively costly.

Thus, each rhinovirus has its way with us while our immune system must first catch and code the offending virus, then concoct and set free the curing antibody. This is a slow but certain process, made seemingly slower by the multimiseries of the common cold.



More hand washing...less touching noses and rubbing eyes.
Adequate rest. This isn't the time for overdoing, be it physical, emotional, intellectual, or social. Overdoing weakens our immune system. Mild upper respiratory irritation and uncustomary fatigue are the harbingers of a cold. Heed the wisdom of the body -- if the white flag of fatigue goes up the pole, get extra rest!
Good nutrition. Mind the food pyramid.
Adequate hydration: 64 oz. of water daily.
Daily and extra vitamin C? Perhaps and probably. There are no defining clinical studies. Why? Natural products aren't patentable, thus what sensible capitalist will spend dollars on research if he/she can't recapture the dollars (along with some profit) on sales? A 500 mg tab daily during the winter won't be harmful and might well prevent a few colds.
"A Pound of Natural Cures?"

Fluids. Drink them: even a bit more than the standard eight glasses a day. Breathe them: in the form of steam, and add eucalyptus if you want...sure smells medicinal. Sniff them: yes, sniff salt water (1/2 teaspoon salt in 8 oz. warm water) and spit out. An old remedy, not socially attractive, but an effective, soothing mucous membrane cleanser.
Rest for the reasons given above.
13.3 mg zinc gluconate lozenges taken every 2 hours while awake shortened cold symptoms from 7 to 4 days, coughs from 4 to 2 days, and headache and hoarseness from 3 to 2 days in a recent Cleveland Clinic study. Zinc apparently revs the immune system. Nausea in 20% and bad taste in 80% are unwelcome effects. Limit use to one week.
Vitamin C in much higher doses, namely 500-1000 mg every 1-2 hours during a cold has been shown to lessen symptoms and shorten duration. Linus Pauling's work of 20 years ago has been confirmed by multiple later studies. Stop if gas or diarrhea occur. Persons having had gout or kidney stones should not use this treatment.
Bioflavanoids (plant pigments) 500 mg per day adds potency to the vitamin C.
Herbs stimulating the immune system and fighting colds are: Echinacea, goldenseal, licorice, and astragalus. The first two were first used by Native Americans, the third used by Western and Eastern cultures for several thousand years, and the fourth by the Chinese. Each are available in root or tea (1-2 gm three times a day), tincture (1-1.5 teaspoons three times a day), and powdered extract (250 mg three times daily). I don't suggest taking all four. Experiment a bit, see what seems to work the best. Echinacea is the most popular. Ask the person at the herb shop, "What seems to work the best for others?"
Chicken Soup? Don't laugh, I read some time back of a well-done study showing it soothed inflamed membranes and promoted drainage, both good things for a cold. See, Jewish mothers have been right all along!
A Pound or So of Pharmaceutical Cures?

Antibiotics are powerless against the virus. They waste your money, can cause undesired effects, and if used when not needed will eventually be useless when needed. If your cold isn't "on its way" in 4-5 days and nasal mucus is discolored or blood-tinged, it is likely that a bacterial infection has developed and I believe antibiotics are indicated.
Aspirin, Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, etc. can be used to treat aches and pains. Fever seems to weaken the virus, and shorten its life. The body is wise. It's probably best to leave a fever alone unless it makes you uncomfortable. Reminder: only acetaminophen or ibuprofen for children under 12.
Decongestants lessen congestion which prevents drainage, making bacterial infection more likely. Pseudoephedrine, phenylpro-panolamine, and phenylephrine are equivalent so buy price. Each are mild stimulants and might interfere with sleeping. Given the choice, I choose sleep over having an open nose. Nasal sprays work well without the stimulation, but if used more than 4-5 days they will cause swelling, not relieve it.
Cough suppressants? Yes, if you're coughing and the cough isn't relieved by saline nasal irrigation. (Often cough is due to posterior nasal sticky mucus stimulating the cough.)