The Common Cold

Got the sniffles? A sore throat? Can’t stop sneezing? During any other year we would just attribute these symptoms to a simple cold. However, it is safe to say that 2020 is not just “any other year”. Before we get into the details of the common cold, let’s talk about it isn’t. I’m not sure about anyone else, but I for one have dealt with a lot of anxiety during this pandemic. I’ve been anxious about all the things in my life being cancelled, I’ve been anxious about online school, but most of all I’ve been anxious about contracting Coronavirus and passing it on to my family. According to Intermountain Healthcare, the symptoms of the Coronavirus are so similar to the flu and common cold. For example, they all include a fever, sore throat, and coughing. However, what makes Covid-19 different is the dry cough and difficulty breathing. These can seem like such tedious attributes, but they make all the difference. Let’s look more at the common cold, also known as the rhinovirus.

The rhinovirus is a member of the picornavirus family and is a single stranded RNA virus. According to an article written by Dr. Pappas, the rhinovirus is responsible for what most people refer to as the common cold. Adults experience two to three colds per year, while a child may experience eight to twelve colds per year. Because of this data, it is said that children are the primary reservoir for the virus. When we generally think of the cold, we assume that it poses no threat to the lives of anyone. However, that is not true. Infections from the common cold often occur in children and can lead to exacerbated asthma attacks or upper respiratory infections such as ARI. These infections can be deadly, especially when left untreated.

The rhinovirus is easily spread and has two modes of transmission. It can be transmitted through droplets that are released whenever one coughs or sneezes or it can be transmitted through fomites. Fomites are basically just inanimate objects such as door handles or counter surfaces. No surprise here, but the cases of rhinovirus typically increase during the colder months in the fall or winter. This may be due to being close to the start of the school year. Also as it gets colder outside, people tend to be indoors with each other and within closer proximity making the virus easier to spread. The rhinovirus also proliferates better in colder temperatures as opposed to the hot temperatures found in the summer months. It’s important to be able to know the signs and symptoms illnesses such as the common cold or the flu, and especially coronavirus. It is not easy to differentiate between the three, but having the knowledge could lead to a quicker diagnosis.