health

The common cold is one of the most widespread infectious diseases in
the world. It is caused by about 200 different viruses belonging to at least
eight different families of viruses. For most people, the classic symptoms
of a cold are an irritated nose or scratchy throat within eight hours to two
days after infection, followed quickly by a runny nose and sneezing.
Although many people experience headaches, general tiredness, and loss
of appetite as well, the main symptoms of a cold are in the nose.

A person can get a cold by inhaling the virus directly if they are sitting
close to an infected person who is sneezing or coughing. They can also get
a cold by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after touching an object or
surface contaminated by the virus. Research indicates that cold viruses
can live on skin for as longas two hours and on drinking glasses or other
hard surfaces for as long as four days. People with colds are most likely
to spreadthe virus to others during the first two to three days of infection.
After that they are much less contagious.