Does Every Cold Start with A Sore Throat?

Do you ever feel this way: every time you realize you have a cold, it starts with a sore throat, followed by sneezing, runny nose, fever, and other symptoms?

Is a sore throat a warning sign from your body? Is it possible to do something as soon as your throat starts to hurt to nip the illness in the bud?

1.Why does a cold often start with a sore throat?

Our throat (pharynx) is the first gate of the respiratory tract; whether we breathe through our nose or mouth, all inhaled air must pass through here. When inhaled air carries viruses, they can easily "land" in this area.

Once the virus attaches to the mucosal epithelial cells of the pharynx, it rapidly invades these cells and replicates extensively within them. This process begins even before cold symptoms appear. The sore throat we experience is largely "collateral damage" caused by the body's immune system attacking the virus.

Specifically, when the virus begins to replicate within the cells of the pharynx, the infected cells send out "SOS signals," and the immune system reacts quickly, mobilizing a large number of immune cells to the site of infection and releasing various inflammatory mediators (such as cytokines and prostaglandins). These inflammatory mediators stimulate nerve endings in the pharynx, causing us to feel pain.

Inflammatory mediators also cause local capillary dilation, congestion, and increased permeability, leading to tissue fluid exudation and increased mucus gland secretion. Therefore, sometimes a cold may initially manifest as nasal congestion and a runny nose.

In addition, some inflammatory mediators enter the bloodstream and act on the brain's thermoregulatory center, leading to fever. This phenomenon is more pronounced in young infants and young children because their immune systems and thermoregulatory centers are still immature, making them more susceptible to infection.

Therefore, a sore throat is not the beginning of illness, but rather a signal that the immune system is launching an attack on the virus.

When we feel unwell, the immune system has already begun its battle. Only by completely defeating the enemy (the virus) will this battle end (symptom relief).

2. Is there a way to nip a cold in the bud?

Some people ask: Are methods like drinking apple water, sea buckthorn juice, prickly pear juice, and scallion water effective?

Actually, these measures don't "cure" a cold; they mainly relieve symptoms. Drinking apple water, sea buckthorn juice, prickly pear juice, scallion water, or other types of beverages essentially only make you more comfortable and have no antiviral effect.

The real way to avoid a cold is to take appropriate hygiene measures to prevent viral invasion:

A. Wash your hands frequently.

This is the most important method because our hands come into contact with various surfaces, thus picking up viruses that may be present. If you then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose, it's easy for viruses to enter your respiratory tract.

Use soap/hand sanitizer and running water, rubbing for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice) to effectively remove viruses from your hands. If water is unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer or disinfectant wipes with an alcohol content of at least 60%.

B. Wear a mask correctly in specific situations

Viruses that cause the common cold are transmitted through droplets and air. A mask can prevent your own droplets from being sprayed out and can also block the inhalation of droplets from others, thus providing an effective barrier.

Wear a mask in crowded and poorly ventilated indoor places (such as public transportation, shopping malls, and hospitals), when in contact with people with fever/respiratory symptoms, during flu season, or when you have respiratory symptoms yourself. Make sure the mask completely covers your mouth, nose, and chin and fits snugly against your face.

C. Ensure adequate indoor ventilation

In enclosed spaces, virus-containing aerosols can remain suspended in the air for a long time. Opening windows for ventilation can quickly dilute the concentration of the virus in the air, reducing the probability of infection.

D. Immunization

While there is currently no immunization that can prevent the common cold, it is possible to prevent upper respiratory symptoms caused by certain pathogens through immunization. It is recommended that all children over 6 months of age receive an annual flu vaccine. For infants under 1 year old, vaccination with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) monoclonal antibodies can also help prevent RSV infection.

3.How to relieve a sore throat?

While there's no immediate solution, there are some ways to make yourself feel better. These include:

Drink plenty of water, such as tea with honey or lemon. Note that honey should be avoided for infants under 12 months. Drink small amounts frequently.

Suck on a hard candy. This is suitable for children and teenagers aged 5 and older. Children 4 and under should not use hard candies due to the risk of aspiration.

Groan with warm salt water (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of salt in about 240 mL of warm water). This is suitable for children and teenagers aged 6 and older.

If the pain interferes with eating, you can take antipyretic analgesics such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Special reminder: Acetaminophen or other medications should not be abused. If sore throat and other symptoms persist or progressively worsen, seek medical attention promptly.