A cold is a minor infection of the nose and throat that lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Five different families of viruses cause colds. The Rhinovirus family causes nearly half of all colds and over 100 different varieties of Rhinovirus have been discovered. Because so many different viruses can cause this infection, it is unlikely that there will ever be a vaccine to protect people from catching a cold.
Colds are common.
In fact, colds are the leading cause of visits to the doctor in the United States. Adults have an average of two to four colds per year, and young children have an average of six to eight. May. Summer colds are relativelyrare. In order for a person to catch a cold, a cold-causing virus must first come in contact with the lining of their nose. Viruses that touch the lining of the eyes or mouth can make their way to the nose.