2008 Woodie Awards
What you should know about the common cold
Issue date: 1/31/08
Section: Student Life
SYMPTOMS:
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Low-grade fever (up to 102 degrees)
• Mild fatigue
CAUSES:
Although more than 200 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and is highly contagious.
A cold virus enters the body through the mouth or nose, but people also have a "hand" in their own illness. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. But it also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by using shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. Touching the eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure increases the chance of catching a cold.
FACTS:
Although the weather seems to cause colds, it doesn't (at least not directly). Colds are more common during winter because more people are indoors, which leads to more human contact. In places where there is no winter season, colds are more frequent in the rainy season.
Aside from exposure to the cold virus, colds are also caused by allergic reactions affecting the nasal passages or a weakened immune system.
Information from Mayo Clinic website
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Itchy or sore throat
• Cough
• Congestion
• Slight body aches or a mild headache
• Sneezing
• Watery eyes
• Low-grade fever (up to 102 degrees)
• Mild fatigue
CAUSES:
Although more than 200 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and is highly contagious.
A cold virus enters the body through the mouth or nose, but people also have a "hand" in their own illness. The virus can spread through droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. But it also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by using shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. Touching the eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure increases the chance of catching a cold.
FACTS:
Although the weather seems to cause colds, it doesn't (at least not directly). Colds are more common during winter because more people are indoors, which leads to more human contact. In places where there is no winter season, colds are more frequent in the rainy season.
Aside from exposure to the cold virus, colds are also caused by allergic reactions affecting the nasal passages or a weakened immune system.
Information from Mayo Clinic website
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