A Cold Is a Mild Viral Infection of the Nose, Throat, Sinuses and Upper Airways

A cold is a mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways. It can cause nasal stuffiness, a runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and a cough. Usually it's a self-limiting infection – this means it gets better by itself without the need for treatment.

A cold can be spread through:

· direct contact – for example, if you sneeze or cough, tiny droplets of fluid containing the cold virus are launched into the air and can be breathed in by others

· indirect contact – for example, if you sneeze onto a door handle and someone else touches the handle a few minutes later, they may catch the cold virus if they then touch their mouth or nose

In adults and older children, the cold will usually last for about a week. You can relieve the symptoms of the cold while the body fights off the infection by taking over-the-counter medication, such as paracetamol, and drinking plenty of fluids.