What Is the Common Cold?

The common cold (acute coryza) is the most widespread disease in humans. It is a highly infectious condition. The common cold causes prominent upper respiratory tract symptoms, specially in the nasal cavities, and mild symptoms in other parts of the body. It occurs due to a wide range of viruses, of which the rhinoviruses are the most prevalent. Other viruses include adenoviruses and coronaviruses. More than 100 types of rhinoviruses are responsible for the common cold. Therefore, it is difficult for your immune system to protect you from this infection. Most people suffer two to three common colds a year. However, the incidence gradually declines with age. It may be due to acquiring immunity to various types of viruses. Additionally, it is one of the well-known causes of school and work absenteeism.

The common cold spreads from person to person by close contact (nasal secretions on hand) or inhalation of droplets from the nose and mouth. When an infected person breathes, sneezes, coughs, or talks, he or she releases a large amount of tiny droplets, which contain viruses, into the air. You can also get the infection by touching contaminated surfaces and objects with nasal secretions from an infected person and then touching your mouth, eyes, or nose. Infectivity is high in the early stages of the common cold. Poor ventilation and overcrowding facilitate spread of the infection. The time between the exposure and the manifestation of the disease (incubation period) differs from 12 hours to five days. Most patients recover from the infection in roughly a week or two. Secondary bacterial infection may occur only in some patients.

Symptoms and signs

• Mild fever
• Tiredness
• Malaise
• Itchy or sore throat and nose
• Nasal blockage
• Sneezing
• Excessive watery nasal secretions are followed by thick yellowish or greenish discharge.
• Cough

Risk factors of the common cold

Weather

The incidence of the common cold is higher in the rainy season and winter. This is because most adults and children tend to spend their time indoors. Warmer climates lower the rate of the infection.

Age

Infants and pre-school children are more prone to develop the common cold because, their immune systems are not well-developed yet. Their hygiene also is poor. Spending most of their time with other children also raises the risk of getting the common cold.

Immunity

Immunity to various viruses is gradually acquired as a person age. Therefore, the risk of the common cold decreases with aging. However, if you have any immune suppressive conditions (cancers, AIDS, chemotherapy, steroid therapy, or other medications, which suppress the immunity), you are more susceptible to develop the common cold. Stress and lack of enough or quality sleep also weakens the immune system. Cigarette smoking can weaken your immunity and worsen the symptoms of the common cold.

Allergic diseases

Allergic conditions, which affect the throat and the nose, increase the risk of the common cold.

Public places

Public places like day care centres, schools, buses, trains, and planes significantly raises the risk of getting the common cold.



Related Links:

Complications of the Common Cold
How to Manage Common Cold?
Can You Really Prevent the Common Cold?