A Winter Cold: Not Inevitable For most people, catching the
common cold is a common part of winter. Children have three to
eight colds a year; adults get two to four. Although colds
cannot be prevented--or cured--you can take precautions to
reduce the chance of infection. What is a cold? A cold is a
viral infection that affects the mucus in the lining of the nose
and throat. A cold can last from a few days to a few weeks. Five
types of viruses can cause colds, but at least one-third of all
colds are caused by the rhinovirus ("rhin" is Greek for "nose");
there are more than 100 varieties of rhinovirus. Because so many
viruses can cause a cold, there probably will never be a vaccine
to prevent people from catching one. You just have to wait out
the cold, drink plenty of liquids, and rest as much as possible.
According to the American Lung Association (ALA), an over-the-
counter antihistamine/decongestant can reduce nasal congestion
and clear up runny noses, but only the body's own defense system
can cure a cold.