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Chapters

0:00 Introduction
1:09 Causes of Common Cold
2:05 Symptoms of Common Cold
2:43 Diagnosis of Common Cold
3:01 Treatment of Common Cold


The common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose.The throat, sinuses, and larynx may also be affected.Signs and symptoms may appear less than two days after exposure to the virus.These may include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days,but some symptoms may last up to three weeks.Occasionally those with other health problems may develop pneumonia.

Well over 200 virus strains are implicated in causing the common cold, with rhinoviruses being the most common. They spread through the air during close contact with infected people or indirectly through contact with objects in the environment, followed by transfer to the mouth or nose.Risk factors include going to child care facilities, not sleeping well, and psychological stress. The symptoms are mostly due to the body's immune response to the infection rather than to tissue destruction by the viruses themselves.In contrast, those affected by influenza can show similar symptoms as people with a cold, but symptoms are usually more severe.Additionally, influenza is less likely to result in a runny nose.