Information for consumer

What is a cold?

A cold is a contagious viral infection. There are more than 200 different viruses which can cause a cold.

It is most common during the cold winter months and affects children and adults of all ages:

• Most adults will catch a cold two to four times a year.
• Symptoms of a cold typically begin 2 to 3 days after infection and can include: nasal stuffiness, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, and cough.

What's the difference between cold and flu?

Although colds and flu (influenza) share some of the same symptoms (such as coughing, sneezing and a sore throat), they are caused by different viruses:

• The flu normally comes on much quicker than a cold and can be much more serious.
• Flu symptoms are more severe and include a sudden fever of 38-40°C; muscular aches and pains; sweating; feeling exhausted; dry, chesty cough; and sneezing.

How long does a cold last?

There is no effective way of treating an ordinary cold to make it go away quicker:

• If the sufferer has no other diseases than the common cold, and it goes away in one to two weeks.
• A person is contagious from the day before the illness breaks out until one to three days after they feel better.

How do we catch a cold?

The infection is spread by airborne droplets when the sufferer coughs or sneezes. It can also be spread by hand if someone has the virus on their hands and then puts them close to their eyes or nose. This is possibly the most common way of catching a cold.

What is nasal congestion?

A blocked nose such as occurs with a cold, is caused by excessive nasal secretions and the swelling up of many tiny blood vessels that line the nose. The air passages become narrower and the nasal secretions may block the nose completely.