Usually about half of the family members of an infected person will become ill. Frequent transmission also occurs at school and daycare. The infected respiratory secretions are passed from one person's hand to another. The second person then touches his or her eyes or rubs his or her nose, spreading the virus there, where it can cross the delicate membranes and cause infection. It is also possible to become infected by touching a surface, such as a table top or doorknob, that was recently touched by an infected person and then touching your eyes or nose.
Viruses can survive on such surfaces for up to three hours.
Therefore, frequent handwashing, careful disposal of all used tissues and avoidance of rubbing your eyes and nose are extremely important to prevent transmission of the common cold. While medical therapies can improve the symptoms of the common cold, they do not prevent, cure or shorten the duration of the illness. It's important to drink adequate fluids, get plenty of rest and treat your symptoms to keep yourself as comfortable as possible. It is important to keep in mind that antibiotics do not cure the common cold, nor do they decrease the duration of symptoms. When To Call A Professional Though the common cold usually causes a mild illness and most people do not seek medical attention, a small number of people can develop bacterial infections of the middle ear, sinuses or lungs.