1 A common cold Definition By Mayo Clinic staff The common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract your nose and throat. A common cold is usually harmless, although it may not feel that way. If its not a runny nose, sore throat and cough, its the watery eyes, sneezing and congestion or maybe all of the above. In fact, because any one of more than 200 viruses can cause a common cold, symptoms tend to vary greatly. Most adults are likely to have a common cold two to four times a year. Children, especially preschoolers, may have a common cold as many as six to 10 times annually. Most people recover from a common cold in about a week or two. If symptoms dont improve, see your doctor. Symptoms By Mayo Clinic staff Symptoms of a common cold usually appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold virus. Signs and symptoms of a common cold may include: ? Runny or stuffy nose ? Itchy or sore throat ? Cough ? Congestion ? Slight body aches or a mild headache ? Sneezing 2 ? Watery eyes ? Low-grade fever (up to 102 F, or 39 C) ? Mild fatigue The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. What makes a cold different from other viral infections is that you generally wont have a high fever. Youre also unlikely to experience significant fatigue from a common cold. When to see a doctor For adults Seek medical attention if you have: ? Fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher ? High fever accompanied by achiness and fatigue ? Fever accompanied by sweating, chills and a cough with colored phlegm ? Significantly swollen glands ? Severe sinus pain For children In general, children are sicker with a common cold than adults are and often develop complications, such as ear infections. Your child doesnt need to see the doctor for a routine common cold. But seek medical attention right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms: ? Fever of 103 F (39.5 C) or higher, chills or sweating ? Fever that lasts more than three days ? Vomiting or abdominal pain ? Unusual sleepiness ? Severe headache ? Difficulty breathing ? Persistent crying 3 ? Ear pain ? Persistent cough Causes By Mayo Clinic staff Although more than 200 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and its highly contagious. A cold virus enters your body through your mouth or nose. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. But it also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by using shared objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. Touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, and youre likely to “catch“ a cold. Risk factors By Mayo Clinic staff Cold viruses are almost always present in the environment. But the following factors can increase your chances of getting a cold: Age. Infants and preschool children are especially susceptible to common colds because they havent yet developed resistance to most of the viruses that cause them. But an immature immune system isnt the only thing that makes kids vulnerable. They also tend to spend lots of time with other children and frequently arent careful about washing their hands and covering their coughs and sneezes. Colds in newborns can be problematic if they interfere with nursing or breathing through the nose. Immunity. As you age, you develop immunity to many of the viruses that cause common colds. Youll have colds less frequently than you did as a child. However, you can still come down with a cold when you are exposed to cold viruses, have an allergic reaction that affects your nasal passages or have a weakened immune system. All of these factors increase your risk of a cold. 4 Time of year. Both children and adults are more susceptible to colds in fall and winter. Thats because children are in school, and most people are spending a lot of time indoors. In places where there is no winter season, colds are more frequent in the rainy season. Complications By Mayo Clinic staff ? Acute ear infection (otitis media). Ear infection occurs when bacteria or viruses infiltrate the space behind the eardrum. Its a frequent complication of common colds in children. Typical signs and symptoms include earaches and, in some cases, a green or yellow discharge from the nose or the return of a fever following a common cold. Children who are too young to verbalize their distress may simply cry or sleep restlessly. Ear pulling is not a reliable sign. ? Wheezing. A cold can trigger wheezing in children with asthma. ? Sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that doesnt resolve may lead to sinusitis inflammation and infection of the sinuses. ? Other secondary infections. These include strep throat (streptococcal pharyngitis), pneumonia, bronchitis in adults and croup in children. These infections need to be treated by a doctor. Treatm