Probably the most ubiquitous disease that we deal with on an almost constant basis is the Common Cold, a viral disease, most commonly caused by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. Most of us have learned to live with these minor disturbances of our usually good health. Fortunately, most episodes are indeed short lived, usually lasting about a week.
Infection is spread by contact with infected secretions of another individual.
This occurs as a result of being exposed to sneezing, coughing or skin contact with an infected person. However, avoiding contact with an afflicted person is not always effective, because someone just coming down with a cold is contagious before they know that they have an infection. The contagious phase is in the first two to four days after symptoms. If one is ill or is immunocompromised in any way, one would be at increased risk of acquiring the infection. Those individuals at increased risk of getting sick in the first place, would also have a greater chance of having a complication occur.