What Causes a Common Cold?
The cold is a
common infection of the upper respiratory tract. Although many people think you
can catch a cold by not dressing warmly enough in the winter, it is a myth that
you can catch the common cold from exposure to chilly weather. The real culprit
is one of more than 200 viruses.
The common cold is spread when you inhale virus particles from an infected person’s sneeze, cough, speech, or loose particles from when they wipe their nose. You can also pick up the virus by touching a contaminated surface that an infected individual has touched. Common areas include doorknobs, telephones, children’s toys, and towels. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), rhinoviruses (which cause the most colds) can live up to three hours on hard surfaces and hands.
The common cold is spread when you inhale virus particles from an infected person’s sneeze, cough, speech, or loose particles from when they wipe their nose. You can also pick up the virus by touching a contaminated surface that an infected individual has touched. Common areas include doorknobs, telephones, children’s toys, and towels. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), rhinoviruses (which cause the most colds) can live up to three hours on hard surfaces and hands.
