What is the common cold?

The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract - the nose, nasal passages and the throat. There are more than 200 viruses that can cause colds. The primary family of viruses that cause common colds in adults are the rhinoviruses. There are more than one hundred kinds of rhinoviruses. These are also called "nose viruses", based on a Greek word "rhino" meaning nose.

What are the symptoms of common cold?

Symptoms usually show up about two days after a person becomes infected. Early signs of a cold are red eyes, a sore throat, sneezing, and […]