According to the National Institutes of Health, Americans suffer as many as one billion colds every year. Children have about 6 to 12 colds per year.
Adults usually get about two to four colds per year.
Researchers believe cold symptoms are caused by the body s immune response to the invading cold virus. Within two to three days after an infection, patients experience a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, and headache. Most people recover in about a week, but some symptoms can linger for up to two weeks. There isn t any cure for the common cold. Simple home remedies, such as gargling with warm salt water and eating chicken soup, may also help some patients.