What is the “common cold”?
A: The common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious
disease of the upper respiratory tract.
What does it primarily affect?
A: The respiratory mucosa of the nose, throat, sinuses, and larynx.
Signs and symptoms may appear how long after exposure
to the virus?
A: Less than two days.
These may include what?
A: Coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever.
How long does it usually take People to recover?
A: In seven to ten days, but some symptoms may last up to three weeks.
Occasionally, those with other health problems may
develop what?
A: Pneumonia.
How many virus strains are implicated in causing the
common cold?
A: Well over 200.
What are the most common ones?
A: Rhinoviruses, coronaviruses, adenoviruses and enteroviruses.
How do they spread?
A: They spread through the air during close contact with infected people or
indirectly through contact with objects in the environment.
The symptoms are mostly due to the body's what?
A: Immune response to the infection rather than to tissue destruction by the
viruses themselves.
What are the primary methods of prevention?
A: Hand washing; not touching the eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands;
and staying away from sick people.
Some evidence supports the use of what?
A: Face masks.
Zinc may reduce the duration and severity of symptoms
if started when?
A: Shortly after the onset of symptoms.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as
ibuprofen may help with what?
A: Pain.
Why should antibiotics not be used?
A: All colds are caused by viruses.
The common cold is the most frequent what?
A: Infectious disease in humans.
Under normal circumstances, the average adult gets how
many colds a year?
A: Two to three.
The average child may get how many?
A: Six to eight.
Infections occur more commonly during what?
A: The winter.
These infections have existed throughout what?
A: Human history.