Colds

1. Natural Cold & Flu Remedies Slideshow Pictures
2. Take the Common Cold Quiz!
3. Immune Boosting Foods Slideshow Pictures

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP

John P. Cunha, DO, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Cunha's educational background includes a BS in Biology from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and a DO from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, New Jersey.

View Full Profile

• Colds Overview
• Causes of Colds
• Cold Symptoms and Signs
• When to Seek Medical Care for a Cold
• Cold Diagnosis
• Cold Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Medical Treatment for a Cold
• Alternative Treatments for Colds
• Follow-up
• Cold Prevention
• Cold Prognosis
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors
• Read more on Colds from Healthwise
• Common Cold FAQs
• Viewer Comments: Common Cold - What You Do to Avoid

A cold is defined as an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus that usually affects the nose but may also affect the throat, sinuses, eustachian tubes, trachea, larynx, and bronchial tubes but not the lungs. The cold is the most commonly occurring illness in the entire world, with more than 1 billion colds per year reported in the United States alone. The common cold is a self-limiting illness caused by any one of more than 250 viruses. However, the most common causes of colds are rhinoviruses. Colds may also be termed coryza, nasopharyngitis, rhinopharyngitis, and sniffles. Everyone is susceptible to colds.

The common cold produces mild symptoms (see below) usually lasting only five to 10 days although some symptoms may last for up to three weeks. In contrast, the "flu" (influenza), which is caused by a different class of virus, can cause severe symptoms but initially may mimic a cold.

Must Read Articles Related to Colds

Croup Croup is a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract that typically affects children under 3 years of age. Symptoms include a barking cough, cold, and low-...learn more >>

Flu in Adults Flu (influenza) is an acute infection of the nose and throat airways. This infection may spread to the lungs. Flu is the most frequent cause of acute respirator...learn more >>

Mild Headache Mild headaches are common but usually do not represent a serious illness. They result from irritation or injury to pain-sensing structures of the head. Symptoms...learn more >>

See the Entire Colds Topic Guide »