Sneezing, sore throat, a stuffy nose, coughing - everyone knows the symptoms of the common cold. It is probably the most common illness. In the course of a year, people in the United States suffer 1 billion colds.
You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces with cold germs on them. You can also inhale the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Washing your hands and staying away from people with colds will help you avoid colds.
There is no cure for the common cold. For relief, try
Getting plenty of rest
Drinking fluids
Gargling with warm salt water
Using cough drops or throat sprays - but not cough medicine for children under four
Taking over-the-counter pain or cold medicines - but not aspirin for children
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
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Cold and Flu Guidelines: The Common Cold(American Lung Association)
Colds and the Flu(American Academy of Family Physicians)
Also available in Spanish
Common Cold(National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
