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

Medical Author:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What is the common cold, and what causes it?
• How is the common cold transmitted?
• What are the symptoms and signs of the common cold in adults, children, and infants?
• Does it have anything to do with exposure to cold weather?
• What is the difference between the common cold and influenza (the flu)?
• How is the common cold diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for the common cold? Are there any home remedies for the common cold?
• Are antibiotics a suitable treatment for the common cold?
• When should a physician or other health-care practitioner be consulted?
• How do you prevent the common cold?
• Common Cold At A Glance
• Common Cold FAQs
• Patient Comments: Common Cold - What You Do To Avoid
• Find a local Family Physician in your town
• Common Cold Index

The most important measure to prevent the common cold is to avoid infected individuals. Frequent hand washing is also extremely important, as this can destroy viruses that you have acquired from touching contaminated surfaces. Also, try to avoid sharing utensils and try to use disposable items (such as disposable cups) if someone in your family has a cold. Finally, lifestyle modifications such as smoking cessation and stress management may decrease your susceptibility to acquiring the common cold. At this time, an effective vaccine against the common cold is not available.

• The common cold is caused by many different viruses.
• Being in cold weather does not cause the common cold.
• Over-the-counter medications may be used for treatment of the common cold.
• Antibiotics do not help the common cold.
• The common cold is self-limited and can generally be managed at home.

Medically reviewed by James Gerace, MD, Board Certified American Board of Internal Medicine with additional certification by the Subspecialty Board of Pulmonary Disease

REFERENCES:

Salem, Leon. "Colds." eMedicineHealth.com. Aug. 10, 2005. <http://www.emedicinehealth.com/colds/article_em.htm>.

United States. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "Common Cold." Dec. 9, 2007. <http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/commonCold/Pages/default.aspx>.