Impact of Proven Viral Load on Common Cold Patients Treated with Pelargonium sidoides Preparation EPs 7630

The Common Cold (CC) is an acute respiratory tract disorder with viral etiology in at least 90% of the cases. Nevertheless, molecular diagnostic testing often confirms the presence of viral Nucleic Acids (NA) in only about half of the patients. Based on the results of a non-comparative, interventional multicenter study we compare the course of CC between patients with and without proof of viral NA, who were treated with Pelargonium sidoides extract preparation EPs 7630. 120 adults with CC and at least 2 out of 10 common cold symptoms received 3×1 film-coated 20 mg tablet EPs 7630 daily for 10 days. At baseline, tests for viral NA were performed. CC-associated symptoms and treatment satisfaction were evaluated after 5 days and at treatment end. Out of 119 patients with molecular nucleic acid based assessments, 61 (61.3%) were tested positive for viral NA. Patients with and without proof of viral NA showed a similar time course of recovery from CC associated symptoms and had a comparable global outcome. In both subsets, less than 20% of the patients received concomitant paracetamol for antipyresis and only 2 required antibiotic treatment. Independently of whether or not viral NA was confirmed at baseline the course of CC treated with EPs 7630 was comparable. The results do not support the necessity to measure the viral load in order to treat CC patients effectively.