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The common cold is an illness affecting your nose and throat. Most often, it's harmless, but it might not feel that way. Germs called viruses cause a common cold. Often, adults may have two or three colds each year. Infants and young children may have colds more often.
You usually don't need medical care for a common cold. But if symptoms get worse or don't go away, see your health care provider. Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their symptoms.
There's no cure for the common cold. Treatment may include pain relievers and cold remedies available without a prescription, such as decongestants. Unlike COVID-19, a cold is usually harmless. Most people get better from a common cold in 3 to 10 days. But some colds may last as long as two weeks.
Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold. But do they work? Nothing can cure a cold, which is caused by germs called viruses. But some remedies might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so bad. Here's a look at some common cold remedies and what's known about them.
Viruses are the most common causes of colds, in particular viruses called rhinoviruses. There are more than 100 strains of rhinoviruses, and they are very good at growing in the nose and throat. The idea behind using zinc to stop cold symptoms is based on lab experiments.
Common cold. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/respiratory-viruses/common-cold?query=Common%20Cold. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can look a lot like the common cold. They both spread through coughs, sneezes and infected surfaces like doorknobs. In healthy adults, symptoms of both viruses are generally mild and include a runny nose, headache, sore throat or a low-grade fever.
A common cold is a viral infection of your baby's nose and throat. Nasal congestion and a runny nose are the main signs of a cold. Babies are especially likely to get the common cold, in part because they're often around older children.
Mild to moderate physical activity is usually OK if you have a common cold and no fever. Exercise may even help you feel better by opening your nasal passages and temporarily relieving nasal congestion.
I'm just getting over a cold, and my ears feel plugged. What causes this? Is there any remedy for plugged ears? Answer From Laura J. Orvidas, M.D.