Related concepts:

Upper respiratory tract infection, URI, Nasopharyngitis, Viral rhinosinusitis.

Introduction to a common cold:

It’s called the “common cold” for a reason. Your child will probably have more colds than any other type of illness. Most kids have had eight to ten colds by their second birthdays and they continue throughout childhood (and their parents get them – usually from the kids). It’s the most common reason that children miss school and parents miss work. If anything, using the term "common" with cold is an understatement.

What is a common cold?

The body has a relatively small number of symptoms with which to respond to an ever-changing, wide variety of viruses. These symptoms are often the body's attempt to get rid of the virus and to minimize damage. Sneezing ejects the virus from the nose, coughing from the lungs and throat, vomiting from the stomach, and diarrhea from the intestines. Fever makes it difficult for the virus to reproduce.

The common cold is our name for a specific constellation of symptoms, a pattern of illness that can be caused by a variety of different viruses.

Over 200 different types of viruses can cause a cold! Rhinoviruses, which means "nose viruses,” are the most common. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenoviruses, enteroviruses, and a host of others can produce colds.

Most people are sick with each specific strain of cold virus only once in their lives.

Who gets a common cold?

Colds are the most prevalent infectious disease. Children average 3 to 8 colds per year (younger children and boys are on the higher end of the range).

Children are the major reservoir of the many cold viruses. They usually get colds from other children. When a new strain is introduced into a school or day care, it quickly travels through the class.

Parents get about half as many colds as their children do. Moms tend to get at least one more cold per year than dads.

Colds can occur year-round, but they occur mostly in the winter (even in areas with mild winters). In areas where there is no winter, colds are most common during the rainy season.

What are the symptoms of a common cold?

The three most frequent symptoms of a cold are nasal stuffiness, sneezing, and runny nose. Throat irritation is often involved (but not with a red throat). Adults and older children with colds generally have minimal or no fever. Infants and toddlers often run a fever in the 100 to 102 degree range.

Once you have "caught" a cold, the symptoms usually begin in 1 to 5 days. Typically, irritation in the nose or a scratchy feeling in the throat is the first sign, followed within hours by sneezing and a watery nasal discharge.