cold.. An acute viral infection that affects the upper respiratory tract, particularly the nose and throat, a highly contagious disease

cold

The common cold is a very common infection of the nose (or more specifically the nasal cavities) and throat, caused by a virus.

Also called viral or acute rhinitis, it causes a sore throat, sneezing, stuffy nose (nasal congestion), and runny nose.

Causes of the common cold

The common cold is most commonly caused by rhinoviruses, which are part of the picornavirus family, which has more than 100 different serotypes.

The body encounters and neutralizes cold viruses several times a year. When a cold appears, it is because the immune system has failed to prevent infection by the virus.

The common cold mainly affects young children since their immune system is developing and they more often come into contact with the viruses that cause the disease.

Cold or flu?

In case of flu, you feel particularly "woozy", and the whole body feels the effects: great fatigue, muscle aches, fever, headaches, etc.

As for the common cold, it results in “lighter” symptoms:

fairly profusely runny nose;

fever and headaches less intense and more rare;

mild pain, fatigue and weakness.

To find out more, consult our Flu sheet.

Note that the common cold can also be confused with respiratory allergies. Consult our Allergic rhinitis sheet.

Prevalence of the common cold

Surveys60 have shown that a normal child may have 6 to 10 colds per year.

Adults have 2 to 4. During each cold, the body develops immunity against the particular virus that caused the episode in question. Over time, the body builds immunity to many of the viruses that cause colds.

From the arrival of autumn and until the end of spring, colds are more frequent. We then spend more time indoors, which contributes to contagion.

Also, during the winter, the air is generally drier in houses, which dries out the mucous membranes of the nose. These become less effective in fighting viruses and preventing the onset of a cold.

In southern countries, colds are more common during the rainy season.

Colds: is it contagious?

The common cold is a contagious disease.

To be able to cause a cold, cold viruses must first attach themselves to the mucous membranes of our nose, eyes or mouth. Unlike the skin, the mucous membranes do not form a very tight barrier against microbes. Viruses can reach the mucous membranes if one inhales fine contaminated droplets, emitted for example when a person who has a cold coughs or sneezes.

The common cold can also be spread by hand contact with an infected person or a contaminated object (glasses, utensils, toys, etc.), when the hands are then brought to the mouth, nose or eyes.

The virus can survive for up to 7 days on inanimate, dry surfaces. The incubation period is very short, varying from a dozen hours (rhinovirus) to a few days.

Possible complications of the common cold

The common cold itself does not cause complications.

However, it weakens the mucous membranes, which can be "colonized" secondarily by bacteria. This is then referred to as bacterial superinfection.

The signs of bacterial superinfection in the sinuses are a thickened nasal discharge and the prolongation of symptoms over several weeks.

Bacteria can also cause other ailments following a cold. So, in children, the most common complication is otitis media.

A persistent cold can also promote the onset of sinusitis, pharyngitis, bronchitis and even, rarely, pneumonia. It can also reactivate the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores and genital herpes, by weakening the body. When to see a doctor for a cold?

Generally, it is not necessary to consult a doctor in case of a simple cold.

In the majority of cases, the symptoms disappear on their own in about 1 week.

However, in the presence of any of the following symptoms, which are signs of a complication (ear infection, sinusitis, etc.) or of a health problem more serious than a cold, it is best to consult a doctor :

intense symptoms that complete the whole organism. For example, a fever of 39.5ºC (103F) or higher, chills or sweats, headache;

nasal secretions that persist for more than 10 days, which sometimes become yellowish and thicker;

persistent pain in one ear, the appearance of conjunctivitis or severe pain in the face or forehead (sinusitis);

a cough that persists for more than 7 days after the disappearance of other symptoms;

in children: persistent crying or very rapid breathing; blue lips;

in the child, a cough so severe that he chokes or vomits;

wheezing;

the occurrence of a cold in a baby under 4 months, as there is a risk of respiratory failure.