Q.Write a short note on the common cold, mentioning its pathogen, symptoms and prophylaxis.

[!TLDR] The common cold is a rhinovirus infection of the nasal mucosa, self-limiting and prevented mainly by hygiene.

The common cold is caused chiefly by rhinoviruses infecting the nasal/upper respiratory mucous membrane, producing nasal congestion, discharge, sneezing and mild fever, usually resolving on its own. Prophylaxis relies on avoiding close contact with infected persons, hand hygiene, and covering the nose/mouth while s …

The common cold, one of the most frequent of all human infections, is caused predominantly by rhinoviruses, which infect the mucous membrane lining the nose and the upper respiratory passage. Typical symptoms include nasal congestion, a watery nasal discharge, repeated sneezing, a mild sore throat, and sometimes a low-grade fever; unlike pneumonia, the infection remains largely confined to the upper respiratory tract and usually resolves on its own within a few days without serious complication. The cold spreads readily through droplet infection (via coughing and sneezing) and through contact with hands or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Because there is no specific cure for the common cold, prevention is the primary defence: avoiding close contact with individuals who are currently infected, maintaining good personal hygiene such as frequent hand-washing, and covering t …

• Confusing the common cold with influenza or pneumonia — the cold is caused by rhinoviruses and stays confined to the upper respiratory tract. …