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Common cold
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The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which includes the nose and throat. It is mild or moderate and self-limited, meaning it goes away on its own. Its most common cause is a virus called rhinovirus.
The interesting part is that rhinovirus does not directly damage cells. The discomfort comes from the innate immune response, the body's first line of defense, as it reacts to the virus. The stuffy nose, known as nasal congestion, happens because the veins of the turbinates widen. The turbinates are ridges inside the nose. They swell like a sponge soaking up blood.
A cold usually starts in the throat: first it gets sore, and one to two days later the runny nose and sneezing arrive.
In brief
The common cold is a mild to moderate, self-limited infection of the upper respiratory tract, most often caused by rhinovirus.
Rhinovirus does not directly damage cells: the symptoms come from the innate immune response, and nasal congestion comes from dilation of the veins in the turbinates.
The turbinates swell like a sponge soaking up blood.
A sore throat is usually the first symptom, followed one to two days later by a runny nose and sneezing.
Sources (1)
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls PublishingUpper Respiratory Tract Infections With Focus on The Common Cold, StatPearlsPublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
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