The Life Plus Hospital

The common cold is a self-limited contagious disease that can be caused by a number of different types of viruses. The common cold is medically referred to as a viral upper respiratory tract infection. Symptoms of the common cold may include cough, sore throat, low-grade fever, nasal congestion, runny nose, and sneezing. More than 200 different types of viruses are known to cause the common cold, with rhinovirus causing approximately 30%-40% of all adult colds.

• Rhinovirus multiplies best at temperatures found in the nose.
• Rhinovirus infection rates peak from September to November and March to May.
• Nevertheless, rhinovirus may cause disease at any time of year. During peak periods, up to 80% of colds may be due to rhinovirus.

Other commonly implicated viruses include coronavirus (COVID-19), adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza virus. Because so many different viruses can cause the common cold, and because new cold viruses constantly develop, the body never builds up resistance against all of them. For this reason, colds are a frequent and recurring problem. In fact, children in preschool and elementary school can have six to 12 colds per year while adolescents and adults typically have two to four colds per year.

• The common cold occurs most frequently during the fall, winter, and spring.
• The common cold is the most frequently occurring viral infection in the world, and it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work.
• It is estimated that individuals in the United States suffer an estimated 1 billion colds per year, with approximately 22 million days of school absences recorded annually.

Causes

Although many types of viruses can cause a common cold, rhinoviruses are the most common cause.

A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes, or talks.

It also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as eating utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after such contact, you’re likely to catch a cold.

Risk factors

These factors can increase your chances of getting a cold:

• Age. Infants and young children are at the greatest risk of colds, especially if they spend time in child care settings.
• Weakened immune system. Having a chronic illness or otherwise weakened immune system increases your risk.
• Time of year. Both children and adults are more likely to get colds in fall and winter, but you can get a cold anytime.
• Smoking. You’re more likely to catch a cold and to have more severe colds if you smoke or are around secondhand smoke.
• Exposure. If you’re around crowds, such as at school or on an airplane, you’re likely to be exposed to viruses that cause colds.

Complications

These conditions can occur along with your cold:

• Acute ear infection (otitis media). This occurs when bacteria or viruses enter the space behind the eardrum. Typical signs and symptoms include earaches or the return of a fever following a common cold.
• Asthma. A cold can trigger wheezing, even if you don’t have asthma. If you have asthma, a cold can make it worse.
• Acute sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that doesn’t resolve can lead to swelling and pain (inflammation) and infection of the sinuses.
• Other infections. A common cold can lead to other infections, including strep throat, pneumonia, and croup or bronchiolitis in children. These infections need to be treated by a doctor.