What you need to know about how to treat this type of viral infection.

A sick woman blowing her nose while on her laptop.

Key Takeaways

The common cold is caused by a virus infecting the upper respiratory tract. It’s characterized by symptoms like coughing, sore throat, fatigue, and low-grade fever.
The common cold spreads through virus-carrying droplets in the air, from a sick person coughing, sneezing, or talking. You can also get sick if you touch a contaminated surface, then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
Unlike a bacterial infection, viral infections can’t be treated with antibiotics. Two of the most important things you can do to recover from the common cold are to rest and hydrate.

Are you in Washington state and looking for a new primary care provider? Schedule an appointment today. You can also book a free 20 minute consultation!

In the US, there are something like one billion cases of the common cold every year. Yes, really! It’s definitely called “common” for a reason and of course, I hear about it very regularly as a nurse practitioner – especially this time of year. Most adults get two or three colds per year, and usually between September and May.

But as common as it is, I still get a lot of questions about this type of viral infection. So let’s break down the basics:

What is a viral infection? What is the difference between a viral infection and a bacterial infection?

Viral infections are, of course, caused by a virus – whereas bacterial infections are caused by a bacteria. But that perhaps doesn’t mean much when both types of infections are common and can feel similar: coughing, sneezing, fever, sore throat, etc. That’s because these are some of the ways our immune system tries to get rid of infections broadly.

Both bacteria and viruses are tiny and we can only see them under a microscope, but they are very different. Bacteria are small, single-celled organisms that can reproduce on their own and live without a host. On the other hand, viruses are even smaller than bacteria. They are not living creatures – they are essentially a bundle of genetic code that needs a host (like a human or animal) to survive and replicate.

You might hear a lot of people refer to a viral infection as the common cold. While viral infection is a broad term and can mean a lot more than a common cold (coronavirus and RSV, for example, are not the common cold of course) we often use it as an everyday shorthand for a viral infection of the upper respiratory tract. In fact, you might hear medical providers call the common cold rhinovirus or RV.

In addition to rhinovirus and coronavirus, you have probably heard of norovirus (the stomach flu); herpes simplex virus (cold sores); varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox); and many more. For this explainer, I’m focusing on the common cold and what you can do if you have it.

What are the symptoms for a common cold? How does it spread?

The common cold is common for a reason – it’s highly contagious. It spreads when you breathe in airborne, virus-containing droplets that come from a sick person coughing, sneezing, talking, or breathing. You can also get sick by touching a contaminated surface then touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. After coming in contact with the virus, you’ll likely start to feel sick within 24 to 72 hours.

Symptoms of a common cold are probably familiar to you. Here are some typical ones:

Congestion or a runny nose
Sneezing and/or coughing
A sore throat
A low-grade fever
Headache or bodyaches
Fatigue
The chills

What works: Here’s how you treat a viral infection

Remember this: Bacterial and viral infections, because they have different root causes, must be treated differently. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. They work by either killing the bacteria or by preventing it from multiplying. You have perhaps had antibiotics for strep throat, some sinus infections, a urinary tract infection, etc.

But antibiotics do not work on viral infections like the common cold. So what does?

Rest: This is number one by a mile. The most common reason I see a viral illness prolonged is when my patients do not get enough rest or go back to work or school too soon. I know it's not possible for everyone to take time off, but if you can, you should!
Hydration: Hydration is always core to your health, but it’s especially important when you’re sick. Your body actually needs more water because it’s working hard to shed the virus, and many cold symptoms themselves are dehydrating.
Hot tea with honey: While not curative, of course, it can be very soothing for a sore throat and suppress your cough.
Regular hand washing: Washing your hands, of course, helps protect you and others from the spread of germs that cause illness.
Wearing a mask: Masks aren't just super effective against the coronavirus – they work to help prevent all viral infections of the respiratory tract. They do so by blocking droplets that contain the virus. You should keep wearing a mask for 5-7 days after you return to your normal activities.

Other things that may work? Though the evidence is mixed, you may find relief or boost your immune system with zinc, echinacea, and vitamin C. And of course, all of us have our favorite cold medications like Dayquil or Mucinex, but be sure to check with your provider before using over the counter cold medicine. These drugs can interact with other medications and can increase blood pressure.

What doesn’t work? Contrary to what my ancestors prescribed, whiskey or vodka don't make your cold better (and definitely dehydrate you). I know – what a bummer!