What Do You Know About the Common Cold?

And some of those viruses can be quite potent. Some viruses, such as the rhinoviruses, seldom cause serious illness. But others, such as parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial virus, can lead to severe lung infections in young children.

Washing your hands with soap and water kills or removes viruses you may have picked up on your hands. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Cold viruses can survive on hard surfaces for several hours. But cleaning these areas often can cut down on their number.

Viruses cause colds.

There is no cure for a cold, but these remedies can ease cold symptoms. These should not be given to children because the risk for side effects is greater than the severity of the cold they are treating. Talk with your doctor if you have questions about cold remedies.

Your eyes and nose are common ways the cold viruses enter your system.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when your cough or sneeze. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.

Fluids help keep mucus more liquid and help prevent ear infections, bronchitis, and other complications.

Alcohol swells nasal passages, and smoke irritates them.

You should see a doctor if if you have a temperature higher than 100.4 F (43.5 C) or if ear discomfort becomes severe; if you cough up thick, rusty, or green mucus; or if a child with a cold develops rapid or difficult breathing, starts wheezing, or acts irritable or lethargic. You should also see a doctor if symptoms last longer than 10 days.

Antibiotics treat bacteria but have no effect on viruses.