Q: (Initially posted June 10, 2004) FROM STUDENT MEMBER KIM R. IN IL
Hi, I'm right now suffering from a cold, and I was wondering, why is it that
finding a cure for the common cold is so difficult?

June 11, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR LESLIE WAITE IN CA
Hi Kim;
Sorry to hear you aren't feeling well. It's especially miserable to
be sick when the weather is nice outside.

As to your question: There are two main reasons that we haven't found
a cure for the common cold: First, it's caused by a virus; second,
because it's actually caused by many viruses.

It's caused by a virus: As much progress as we have made in the field
of medicine, and specifically in AIDS research (another disease
caused by a virus), the truth is, we have yet to be able to cure
anyone of a viral infection. Surprised? Most folks are. They think of
all the vaccines we have against things like polio, smallpox,
measles, etc. But vaccines are preventatives: they prevent you from
becoming infected with a virus before your body has been exposed to
it by jump-starting your immune system. If and when you do get
exposed to the virus, your body is ready to attack so that it
basically stops the virus before it starts. We have yet to be able to
eliminate a virus from someone's system once it has taken hold. The
best we have done so far is to control it.

So now you might be wondering, well, why don't we have vaccines
against the common cold? This brings me to my second reason, that the
common cold is caused by a number of different viruses. Also, these
viruses are constantly changing so that they can avoid detection by
our immune systems (they are wily that way). So it would be pretty
much impossible to generate enough vaccines to protect you against
every possible cold-causing virus. Even if we tried, many of the
viruses would have changed (mutated) enough by the time we produced
the vaccine that it would no longer work, and we would have to start
over.

We have made some attempts at curbing the nastiest viruses, though.
You may hear each fall about how there are flu vaccines available
(flu being basically a more severe form of cold). These vaccines are
based on our best guess of which viruses are likely to be a problem
in the coming winter months. Sometimes we do well, and many people
are protected from potentially life-threatening illness. Sometimes we
don't do so well; we guess incorrectly, or the virus mutates so that
the vaccine is ineffective. But nonetheless, we try.

So what can you do to fight off the common cold? The best measures
are preventative and simple. First, eat right and exercise. We now
know that eating a balanced diet that includes lots of fruits and
vegetables, and getting regular exercise actually builds your immune
system and keeps it strong so that you can fight off viruses that may
make other people sick.

Second, get out of the habit of touching your eyes or your nose
without first washing your hands. While some viruses can be
contracted by breathing in air that contains them, most viruses are
transmitted by touching something that has a virus particle on it (a
doorknob, a bus strap, or when you shake someone's hand), then later
touching your eyes or nose. This gives the virus particle a nice warm
place to settle in and start wreaking havoc. So be aware of when you
touch your eyes and nose, and start training yourself to avoid doing
that unless you have just washed your hands.

And while I'm at it, a few pointers on hand washing: Any soap will
do-it doesn't matter if it is antibacterial or not. And if you want
to be sure to get them clean enough, try singing or humming (in your
head if others are around) the "happy birthday to you" song. If you
wash your hands for a full chorus of that, you are good to go. And if
you are like me, you are pretty amused by the whole thing too....

Feel better soon!