Common cold treatment

The common cold is a viral infection.

Signs your body is fighting a cold

It's one of the most common illnesses people get.

• Colds spread easily from person to person, especially within the first 2 days of symptoms

• Symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, tiredness, and sometimes a mild fever and go away on their own within 4 to 10 days

• Being cold or wet doesn’t cause colds or make you more likely to get sick

• Having yellow or green-colored mucus is normal in the later stages of a cold—it doesn't mean you need antibiotics or have a more serious infection

• Decongestants and antihistamines can help cold symptoms feel better, but don’t give these medicines to children under 4 years old

• Because colds are caused by viruses, antibiotics won't cure a cold or make it go away faster

Colds are caused by many different viruses.

A group of viruses called rhinoviruses are the most common cause. Rhinoviruses tend to cause colds in the spring and fall.

You can get a cold by:

• Touching an infected person’s hand after they’ve wiped or blown their nos

  common cold spread through contaminated food
  common cold spreadable