The common cold is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract. Children younger than 6 are most likely to catch frequent cold especially if they spend time at child-care settings. Weakened immune system, smoking and increased exposure are other risk factors for common cold. A lot of viruses can cause common cold, however rhinoviruses are the most common among them.
One to three days after exposure to common cold symptoms appear. These include runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough, congestion, slight body aches or a mild headache, sneezing, low-grade fever, and malaise.
When to seek medical care
Adults should seek medical care if they have fever greater than 101.3 F (38.5 C) and if their fever lasts more than five days with no indication of other fever causing disease, shortness of breath, wheezing and severe headache, sore throat or sinus pain.
Children should seek medical care if their symptoms are severe or do not appear to be improving, if they develop wheezing, ear pain, extreme fussiness, unusual drowsiness or lack of appetite. Also fever of 100.4 F (38 C) in newborns up to 12 weeks is a good indication that you need to seek medical care.
Common cold usually does not develop serious complications as much as flu, such as associated pneumonia, but depending on your immune system and other risk factors you may need to take greater care for your illness. Adults usually have common cold 3-5 times a year especially in fall and winter when common cold viruses are commonly transmitted.