What causes the common cold?

Common Cold Symptoms. When a cold strikes, you may have symptoms like: Scratchy or sore throat; Sneezing; Stuffy nose; Watery eyes; Mucus draining from your nose into your throat; More severe symptoms, such as high fever or muscle aches, may be a sign that you have the flu rather than a cold. For more detail, see Common Cold Symptoms: What You Might Feel. read more

The common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose. The throat, sinuses, and larynx may also be affected. Signs and symptoms may appear less than two days after exposure to the virus. read more

Typical signs and symptoms include earaches and, in some cases, a green or yellow discharge from the nose or the return of a fever following a common cold. Asthma. A cold can trigger an asthma attack. Acute sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that doesn't resolve can lead to inflammation and infection of the sinuses (sinusitis). read more