Overview
- Editors:
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Ronald Eccles
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Common Cold Centre Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Olaf Weber
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Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany
- Unique compilation of topics from the physiology of the sneeze reflex to molecular biology of host-virus interactions
- Includes discussion of "over-the-counter" medicines and alternative treatments
About this book
The common cold is unlike any other human disease because of two f- tors: firstly, it is arguably the most common human disease and, secondly, it is one of the most complex diseases because of the number of viruses that cause the familiar syndrome of sneezing, sore throat, runny nose and nasal congestion. These two factors have made a ‘cure’ for the common cold one of the most difficult scientific and clinical endeavours (a topic often d- cussed in the popular media, where comparisons are made with the ease of putting a man on the moon). The present book brings together a wide range of experts from epidemiologists to virologists and pharmacologists to look at recent advances in our knowledge of the common cold. In some respects the book is unique, as it focuses on the common cold, a syndrome so familiar to the layperson but one that receives little attention from the scientist and clinician. The common cold can be viewed from many different aspects as illustrated in Figure 1. The core knowledge for understanding the common cold must first come from virology and this is discussed in several chapters of the book. There have been major advances in this field because of the use of new methods of detecting viruses such as polymerase chain reaction techniques that have greatly aided our understanding of the epidemiology of viruses associated with common cold.
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Article
Open access
11 December 2023
Table of contents (14 chapters)
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- Isabel Atzl, Roland Helms
Pages 1-21
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- Alex J. Elliot, Douglas M. Fleming
Pages 47-75
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- Ian M. Mackay, Katherine E. Arden, Stephen B. Lambert
Pages 77-106
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- William J. Doyle, Sheldon Cohen
Pages 149-186
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- Diane E. Pappas, J. Owen Hendley
Pages 197-210
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- Mieke van Driel, Chris Del Mar
Pages 211-219
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- Timothy W. Kenealy, Bruce Arroll
Pages 237-247
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Back Matter
Pages 349-355
Reviews
From the reviews:
“This is an interesting and comprehensive monograph on the syndrome familiar to us all as ‘the common cold’. … the editors have generally avoided repetition and many of the chapters are data-rich, with good overviews of the epidemiology and treatments, many of which are refreshingly up-to-date. … The book also contains a wealth of useful background information on the economic and societal impact of the common cold, and is recommended for institutional purchase.” (David J. Evans, Microbiology Today, August, 2010)
Editors and Affiliations
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Common Cold Centre Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
Ronald Eccles
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Institute of Molecular Medicine and Experimental Immunology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, Germany
Olaf Weber