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Original ArticleOpen Access
Treatment of the Common Cold
Supiyaphun P 
,
Kerekhanjananarong MV ,
Saengpanich S ,
Cutchavaree MA
,
Kerekhanjananarong MV ,
Saengpanich S ,
Cutchavaree MA Background
: Common colds are usually treated by the patients themselves with over-the-
counter (OTC) cold medications. Many cough and cold remedies are available and sold freely without
prescription. The authors conducted a study to compare the efficacy, adverse effects, the quality of life
(QOL) and the patient's opinion and appreciation on the drugs (POD) between DayquiJเธŽINyquiJเธŽand
Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol syrup.
Method
:In this prospective, investigator-blinded clinical trial, 120 patients, aged between 15
and 60 years old, with common colds within 72 hours, who accepted the trial and gave informed written
consent, were randomized into two treatment groups. One patient was excluded due to evidence of bac-
terial infection. Fifty-nine patients were treated with DayquilเธŽINyquilเธŽ
(DIN
group), while the other
60 patients had Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol (ADM/P group) for three days. On day 1 the patient's
demographic data (sex, age, body weight, blood pressure, co-existing diseases/conditions, drug use, and
allergy to any drugs), the most prominent symptoms and its duration were recorded. All patients were
screened for bacterial infection by physical examination, complete blood count and sinus radiographs.
The symptoms (nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, cough, sore throat, fever and headache) and signs
(injected nasal mucosa, nasal discharge and pharyngeal discharge) were scored, based on 4-point scale
(0 to 3), on days 1 and 4. Changing of the symptoms and QOL were recorded on the diary card. The
patient's opinion and appreciation on the drugs (POD) was assessed on day 4. The effectiveness (the
ability to lessen the symptoms and signs), QOL and POD between two treatments were compared.
Results
: The demographic data between the two groups were similar. The four most com-
mon prominent symptoms of common colds in our series were cough ( 4 7.9% ), sore throat (26.17% ),
rhinorrhea (8.4%) and headache (8.4%). However, both treatments were equally effective in lessening
the symptoms (P
=
0.426) and signs (P
=
0.716) of common cold from days 1 to 4. The adverse effects
were significantly higher in ADH/P group than in
DIN
group (p
=
0.006). In contrast, QOL in terms
of alertness, freshness and sound sleep improved from day 1 to day 3 in both treatments, but the over-
all day-3 score was significantly higher in the
DIN
group than the ADM/P group (1.85
เธ‘
1.83; 1.25
เธ‘
1.94: p
=
0.024). POD in terms of convenience, flavour of drug, effectiveness of the drug and a need
to repeat the drug assessed on day 4, was also significantly higher in the
DIN
group than the ADM/P
group (10.68
เธ‘
2.56; 8.92
เธ‘
2.27 : p
<
0.001)
Vol. 86 Suppl 2
TREATMENT OF THE COMMON COLD
S363
Conclusion : DayquiJเธŽfNyquilเธŽ are as effective as Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol in con-
trolling the symptoms and signs of the common cold, but have fewer adverse effects. The quality of
life assessed during the use of the drugs was significantly higher in the Dayquil/Nyquil group, and
according to the patients, they prefered Dayquii/Nyquil more than Actifed DM plus paracetamol.
Key word : Common Cold, Rhinitis, Medical Treatment, Viral Infection
: Common colds are usually treated by the patients themselves with over-the-
counter (OTC) cold medications. Many cough and cold remedies are available and sold freely without
prescription. The authors conducted a study to compare the efficacy, adverse effects, the quality of life
(QOL) and the patient's opinion and appreciation on the drugs (POD) between DayquiJเธŽINyquiJเธŽand
Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol syrup.
Method
:In this prospective, investigator-blinded clinical trial, 120 patients, aged between 15
and 60 years old, with common colds within 72 hours, who accepted the trial and gave informed written
consent, were randomized into two treatment groups. One patient was excluded due to evidence of bac-
terial infection. Fifty-nine patients were treated with DayquilเธŽINyquilเธŽ
(DIN
group), while the other
60 patients had Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol (ADM/P group) for three days. On day 1 the patient's
demographic data (sex, age, body weight, blood pressure, co-existing diseases/conditions, drug use, and
allergy to any drugs), the most prominent symptoms and its duration were recorded. All patients were
screened for bacterial infection by physical examination, complete blood count and sinus radiographs.
The symptoms (nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, cough, sore throat, fever and headache) and signs
(injected nasal mucosa, nasal discharge and pharyngeal discharge) were scored, based on 4-point scale
(0 to 3), on days 1 and 4. Changing of the symptoms and QOL were recorded on the diary card. The
patient's opinion and appreciation on the drugs (POD) was assessed on day 4. The effectiveness (the
ability to lessen the symptoms and signs), QOL and POD between two treatments were compared.
Results
: The demographic data between the two groups were similar. The four most com-
mon prominent symptoms of common colds in our series were cough ( 4 7.9% ), sore throat (26.17% ),
rhinorrhea (8.4%) and headache (8.4%). However, both treatments were equally effective in lessening
the symptoms (P
=
0.426) and signs (P
=
0.716) of common cold from days 1 to 4. The adverse effects
were significantly higher in ADH/P group than in
DIN
group (p
=
0.006). In contrast, QOL in terms
of alertness, freshness and sound sleep improved from day 1 to day 3 in both treatments, but the over-
all day-3 score was significantly higher in the
DIN
group than the ADM/P group (1.85
เธ‘
1.83; 1.25
เธ‘
1.94: p
=
0.024). POD in terms of convenience, flavour of drug, effectiveness of the drug and a need
to repeat the drug assessed on day 4, was also significantly higher in the
DIN
group than the ADM/P
group (10.68
เธ‘
2.56; 8.92
เธ‘
2.27 : p
<
0.001)
Vol. 86 Suppl 2
TREATMENT OF THE COMMON COLD
S363
Conclusion : DayquiJเธŽfNyquilเธŽ are as effective as Actifed DMเธŽ plus paracetamol in con-
trolling the symptoms and signs of the common cold, but have fewer adverse effects. The quality of
life assessed during the use of the drugs was significantly higher in the Dayquil/Nyquil group, and
according to the patients, they prefered Dayquii/Nyquil more than Actifed DM plus paracetamol.
Key word : Common Cold, Rhinitis, Medical Treatment, Viral Infection
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