The severity of cold symptoms is said to be related to the types of bacteria that live in everyone’s nose.
With the freshness of fall, colds are back. And in this matter, know that we are not all equal. The severity of the symptoms is actually related to the types of bacteria that live in everyone’s nose. For example and according to a new search, people with noses rich in staph bacteria have more severe symptoms than those with fewer staphylococci, despite the fact that their cold is caused by the same strain of the virus.
The researchers found that the bacteria present in the noses of volunteers could be classified in six models of nasal microbiomes. The different patterns have been associated with more or less severe symptoms. Nasal microbiomes have also been found to correlate with viral load, which is the amount of virus present in the body.
Bacterial pattern
“The bacterial pattern of your nose has influences on how you reacted to the virus and how sick you are,” simplifies Ronald B. Turner (University of Virginia), director of research, who admits to being very surprised by his discovery. “It may still be that there is an underlying characteristic that makes you likely to have staphylococci in the nose and therefore increases the risk of getting sick,” he says however. For example, genes could be responsible for both the makeup of the nasal microbiome and the reaction to the common cold virus.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers tested 152 nasal microbiomes. Initially, the team wanted to know if administering probiotics – “beneficial” bacteria – could improve cold symptoms or affect the makeup of their nasal microbiomes. In both cases the answer was no, although it is possible that giving a probiotic directly into the nose, for example by means of a spray bottle, may have more effect.
When should you consult?
A cold is quite similar to the symptoms of the flu, but much less severe. It is characterized by fever, headache, fatigue, general pain, nasal congestion and sneezing, possibly sore throat and cough.
A doctor should be consulted during the day if the common cold is associated with a high fever (over 38 ° 5 C), severe ear pain, severe headache or respiratory problems. You should also consult a doctor in the following days if the cold does not give way after ten days, if an ear infection or sinusitis appears, or if there is blood in the nasal secretions on a regular basis.
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