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Common Cold

What is the common cold?

The common cold is a mild infection of your upper respiratory tract (which includes your nose and throat). Colds are probably the most common illness. Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Colds are more common in the winter and spring, but you can get them at any time.

What causes the common cold?

More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common type. The viruses that cause colds are very contagious. They can spread from person to person through the air and close personal contact. You can also get infected when you touch something that has the virus on it and then touch your eyes, mouth, or nose. For example, you could get a cold after you shake hands with someone who has a cold or touch a doorknob that has the germs on it, and then touch your face.

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Results 1 - 10 of 1,576 for common cold
  1. Common Cold (National Library of Medicine)  
    What is the common cold? The common cold is a mild infection of your upper respiratory tract (which includes your nose and throat). Colds are probably the most common illness. ...
  2. ... 19 may be similar to those of the common cold. Always check with your provider if you are ... ask your provider for antibiotics to treat a common cold. Keep in mind that antibiotics kill bacteria. They ...
  3. The common cold most often causes a runny nose, nasal congestion, and sneezing. You may also have a sore throat, ... It is called the common cold for good reason. There are over one billion colds in the United States each year. You and your children will ...
  4. Facts about the Common Cold (American Lung Association)  
    Interesting and helpful facts about the common cold, and understanding the difference between a cold and the flu. ... cold symptoms, common cold symptoms, symptoms of a cold, common cold, cold vs flu
  5. Common Cold (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)  
    Antibiotics cannot cure the common cold or help you feel better if you have a runny nose. ... Common Cold/Start Here
  6. Viral Infections (National Library of Medicine)  
    ... the diseases that viruses can cause include the common cold, the flu, COVID-19, and HIV. How are ...
  7. Common Cold in Babies: Symptoms and Causes (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)  
    Common Infant and Newborn Problems/Specifics ... Common Infant and Newborn Problems ... Common Cold/Children ... Common Cold ... Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and ...
  8. ClinicalTrials.gov: Common Cold From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health)  
    Common Cold/Clinical Trials ... Common Cold
  9. Vitamin C From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)  
    ... supplements affect the risk of getting cataracts. The common cold Although vitamin C has long been a popular remedy for the common cold , research shows that for most people, vitamin C ...
  10. Zinc From the National Institutes of Health (National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements)  
    ... of what research on zinc has shown. The common cold Some studies suggest that zinc lozenges or zinc syrup speeds recovery from the common cold if you start taking them at the start ...
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