What is the common cold?

What causes the common cold?

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.
 In the United States, the common cold is thought to account for approximately 75-100
million physician visits annually, with an economic impact of greater than $20 billion per
year due to cold-related work loss.