You wake up in a cranky mood. Your head hurts. You don't have the energy to even get out of bed. And you can't breathe out of your nose. What's wrong? You may have a cold!
A cold is an infection of the upper respiratory system. This just means it can affect the nose, throat, and sinuses. A cold virus gets inside your body and makes you sick. The rhinovirus (say: rye-no-VYE-rus) is the most common cold virus, but more than 200 viruses can cause colds. Because there are so many, there isn't a vaccination, or shot, to prevent you from getting colds.
Fortunately, your body already has the best cold cure — your immune system. The immune system defends your body against illness. White blood cells are the immune system's main warriors. They're your own private army working to help you feel better. Take that, cold viruses!
Mucus (say: MYOO-kus) is wet, slimy stuff inside the nose, mouth, and throat. When someone sneezes or coughs, mucus drops float in the air. Breathing in these droplets can spread a cold from one person to another.
You also can catch a cold if you touch your eyes, nose, or mouth after handling something with cold viruses on it. Video games, the doors at the mall, and your school desk are all hot spots for viruses. So be sure to wash your hands regularly.
You sneeze because your nerves detect the irritation in your nose and get the lungs to push a blast of air out through your nose and mouth. A sneeze can travel at more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) an hour — faster than a car travels on the road, unless you're at a racetrack!
Symptoms (say: SIMP-tumz) are signs or clues that tell doctors you're sick. Once you've been in contact with a cold virus, it takes 2 to 3 days for cold symptoms to begin. You may have some of these symptoms with a cold:
Having a cold is the #1 reason kids visit the doctor and stay home from school. Kids can get six to 10 colds per year with each cold lasting an average of 7 to 14 days.
Here are some feel-better tips if you get a cold:
Reviewed by: Patricia Solo-Josephson, MD
Date Reviewed: Jun 1, 2017