May 24, 2023 · The common cold is an illness affecting your nose and throat. Most often, it's harmless, but it might not feel that way. Germs called viruses cause a common cold. Often, adults may have two or three colds each year. Infants and young children may have colds more often.

May 24, 2023 · Most people with a common cold can be diagnosed by their symptoms. Your care provider may take a nasal or throat swab to rule out other illnesses. A chest X-ray may be ordered to rule out a lung illness.

Jul 12, 2024 · Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold. But do they work? Nothing can cure a cold, which is caused by germs called viruses. But some remedies might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so bad. Here's a look at some common cold remedies and what's known about them.

Jun 24, 2021 · A common cold is a viral infection of your baby's nose and throat. Nasal congestion and a runny nose are the main signs of a cold. Babies are especially likely to get the common cold, in part because they're often around older children.

Feb 13, 2024 · A cold may last 3 to 10 days in adults, although a cough may last for a couple of weeks longer. You can treat the symptoms of the common cold with rest and added fluids. Pain relievers may help with aching muscles or throat pain. Nasal rinses or sprays may help with congestion or runny nose. Seasonal allergies may last several weeks.

Dec 30, 2024 · These symptoms may overlap with other illnesses, like the common cold, but key differences exist. Colds generally develop gradually, while flu symptoms typically appear suddenly within two or three days of exposure to the virus.

Dec 23, 2024 · The common cold is: NOT like the flu (influenza), which has a sudden onset of severe body aches, high fever, bad headache and cough. NOT like COVID-19, which causes symptoms similar to the common cold plus loss of taste …

Jan 28, 2025 · Overview. Flu, also called influenza, is an infection of the nose, throat and lungs, which are part of the respiratory system. The flu is caused by a virus.

Nov 4, 2024 · Some limited research shows that vitamin C may prevent the duration of a virus, such as the common cold. So, if your cold lasts a week, taking vitamin C may reduce it by 13 hours, which isn't all that significant based on a few limited studies.

Jan 3, 2025 · "So if you were going to have a common cold that lasts about seven days, it may cut it down about 13 hours," says Dr. Bracamonte. He says you should be getting an adequate amount of vitamin C if you're including fruits and vegetables in your diet.