common cold

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Science & Tech

common cold

viral infection

Also known as: acute rhinitis, afebrile coryza

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 7, 2024 • Article History

Category: Science & Tech

Related Topics:: human respiratory system; respiratory disease; viral disease; rhinitis

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common cold, acute viral infection that starts in the upper respiratory tract, sometimes spreads to the lower respiratory structures, and may cause secondary infections in the eyes or middle ears. More than 200 agents can cause symptoms of the common cold, including parainfluenza, influenza, respiratory syncytial viruses, and reoviruses. Rhinoviruses, however, are the most frequent cause, and some 100 different strains of rhinoviruses have been associated with coldlike illness in humans. The popular term common cold reflects the feeling of chilliness on exposure to a cold environment that is part of the onset of symptoms. The cold is caught from ...(100 of 518 words)

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