How many common cold viruses are there

This content does not have an Arabic version. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. More Information Plugged ears: What is the remedy? Share on: Facebook Twitter. Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, Sullivan JE, et al.

Clinical report — Fever and antipyretic use in children. Reaffirmed July Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. Accessed Feb. Renaud DL expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Common colds: Protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Accessed Jan. Upper respiratory tract infection. Mayo Clinic; Learn more about symptom relief of upper respiratory infections, including colds. Antibiotics will not help you recover from a cold caused by a respiratory virus.

They do not work against viruses, and they may make it harder for your body to fight future bacterial infections if you take them unnecessarily. Learn more about when antibiotics work. You should also call your doctor right away if you are at high risk for serious flu complications and get flu symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle or body aches.

People at high risk for flu complications include young children younger than 5 years old , adults 65 years and older, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease. Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold or the flu and can recommend treatment to help with symptoms. Many different respiratory viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common. Rhinoviruses can also trigger asthma attacks and have been linked to sinus and ear infections.

Other viruses that can cause colds include respiratory syncytial virus , human parainfluenza viruses , adenovirus , common human coronaviruses , and human metapneumovirus. The flu, which is caused by influenza viruses, also spreads and causes illness around the same time as the common cold.

Because these two illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult or even impossible to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. To feel better, you should get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.

Over-the-counter medicines may help ease symptoms but will not make your cold go away any faster. Always read the label and use medications as directed. Talk to your doctor before giving your child nonprescription cold medicines, since some medicines contain ingredients that are not recommended for children.

You should call your doctor if you or your child has one or more of these conditions: a temperature higher than If your child is younger than 3 months of age and has a fever, you should always call your doctor right away.

Your doctor can determine if you or your child has a cold and can recommend therapy to help with symptoms. When you have a cold, mucus fills your nose, causing runny nose, congestion, and mucus to drip down your throat post-nasal drip , which can cause a sore throat and cough. This mucus helps wash the germs from the nose and sinuses. These viruses typically consist of several strains that circulate seasonally, are more common in winter and usually infect the upper respiratory tract.

Common cold symptoms last about seven days — but, in some, they can last up to three weeks. Depending on the virus as well as the age of the person and their immune system, symptoms can vary hugely and include mild symptoms such as a sore throat, headache, fatigue, blocked or runny nose, and sneezing and coughing.

But in some people, the symptoms can be much worse. It can spread to the middle ear, sinuses or the lungs causing pneumonia or a secondary bacterial infection more common in people with a weakened immune system, the very young or older people.

Common cold viruses can also make certain existing respiratory diseases worse, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Have anti-COVID measures, such as mask-wearing and physical distancing, affected our resistance against the common cold? From early , it was clear that these measures also reduced transmission of other respiratory infections.

This becomes especially important when the non-pharmaceutical interventions are relaxed and people begin to congregate and mix more. Essentially, there is a larger group of more vulnerable people this winter.