Information About the Common Cold

Runny nose, scratchy throat and sneezing are the first signs of the common cold. One cold virus can produce 16 million offspring in one day, according to Jane Collingwood on PsychCentral.com.

Prevalence

• Each year there are 1 billion cases of common colds in the United States, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease.

Cause

• Two hundred viruses can cause symptoms associated with the common cold, according to the allergy institute. Cold and rainy weather has no effect on whether or not a person gets a common cold.

Treatment

• Treatment for the common cold includes resting in bed, drinking fluids, gargling warm saltwater, using lozenges, using petroleum jelly for a dry nose, and taking drugs such as Tylenol for headaches or fever, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infection Diseases.

Prevention

• You can prevent the common cold by keeping your hands away from your face, avoiding people who have colds, and using disinfectants, the institute says.

Fun Fact

• About 22 million school days are missed each year because of the common cold, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.