The treatment and management of colds and influenza mainly involves alleviating your symptoms, though they ordinarily resolve on their own. If you have a chronic health condition, a cold or influenza can worsen whatever condition you have, particularly diabetes and chronic heart and lung diseases. Occasionally viral upper respiratory infections develop into complications like ear or ]]>sinus infections]]> or ]]>pneumonia]]> .

The goals of treatment are threefold:

  • Make yourself comfortable while the illness runs its course.
  • Manage other conditions so they do not worsen during upper respiratory infection.
  • Prevent complications from developing.

Treatment involves the following:

]]>Lifestyle changes]]>
]]>Medications]]>
]]>Alternative and complementary therapies]]>

There are no surgical procedures for the treatment of colds and influenza.