Common Cough and Cold
The common cold is an upper respiratory tract infection caused by many different viruses. The common cold is transmitted by virus-infected airborne droplets or by direct contact with infected secretions. Being in cold weather does not cause the common cold, but cold weather promotes close contact.
The common cold is spread either by direct contact with infected secretions from contaminated surfaces or by inhaling the airborne virus after individuals sneeze or cough. Person-to-person transmission often occurs when an individual who has a cold blows or touches their nose and then touches someone or something else. A healthy individual who then makes direct contact with these secretions can subsequently become infected, often after their contaminated hands contact their own eyes, nose, or mouth. A cold virus can live on frequently touched objects such as doorknobs, pens, books, cell phones, computer keyboards, and coffee cups for several hours and can thus be acquired from contact with these objects.
