Dr. Barbara Huggins

Hard Cold Facts

January 3, 2008

Hard Cold Facts -  January 3, 2008Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose -- everyone knows the first signs of a cold. And everyone has an opinion about how you get a cold and how you treat a cold. Today, UT Health Center's Dr. Mom reports the cold hard facts about colds.

Colds are minor infections of the nose and throat that are caused by over 200 different viruses. A cold may last one week or more, and they are highly contagious. Adults suffer with 2-4 colds per year while children suffer 6-8 colds per year.

Colds are spread when droplets of fluid that contain the cold virus are transferred by touch. The viruses do not multiply on environmental surfaces, but they can still be transferred and still be infectious.

Cold symptoms include:
Lower the possibility of getting a cold by:
I have a cold. What can I do?
Cold Myths:
For more information:

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