The cold is one of the most common illnesses around, caused by more than 200 viruses. Children, for example, often get six to ten colds a year. These viruses are most often transmitted by:
- Touching your skin or surfaces (such as telephones and stair rails) that have cold germs on them and then touching your eyes or nose
- Inhaling drops of mucus full of cold germs from the air when a contagious person coughs or sneezes.
Symptoms usually begin two to three days after infection and include
sore throat, coughing, runny nose, and fever.
(Click Common Cold for information on additional symptoms, treatment options, prevention methods, and more.)
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