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Posted by on Jun 9, 2015 in TellMeWhy |

What Causes a Cold?

What Causes a Cold?

What Causes a Cold? Common colds are caused by a type of germ known as a cold virus. This germ infects your nose and throat, causing you to sneeze and sniffle, and your nose to be red and sore from frequent blowing. When someone with a cold coughs or sneezes, many viruses escape into the air.

Doctors believe that you can “catch” a cold if you breathe in cold viruses expelled by someone who already has a cold. Colds strike most often in winter. People tend to stay together indoors during cold weather, thus, cold virus germs are more likely to spread.

Although more than 100 viruses can cause a common cold, the rhinovirus is the most common culprit, and it’s highly contagious.

A cold virus enters your body through your mouth, eyes or nose. The virus also spreads by hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold or by sharing contaminated objects, such as utensils, towels, toys or telephones. If you touch your eyes, nose or mouth after such contact or exposure, you’re likely to catch a cold.

Content for this question contributed by Sven Fitzsimmons, resident of, Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon, USA