Question

COMMON COLD

a. Name two of the most common viruses to cause a cold.

b. What is the most common route of transmission?

c. Why do more colds happen in the winter?

d. Does taking large doses of vitamin C or Echinacea help with prevention or symptoms of the common cold?

Answer 1

A. Rhinoviruses and human coronoviruses are the two main causes of common cold.

B.  The common cold virus is typically transmitted via airborne droplets (aerosols), direct contact with infected nasal secretions, or fomites (contaminated objects.). Which of these routes is of primary importance has not been determined; however, hand-to-hand and hand-to-surface-to-hand contact seems of more importance than transmission via aerosols.

C.  Some of the viruses that cause the common colds are seasonal, occurring more frequently during cold or wet weather. Cold temperature-induced changes in the respiratory system, decreased immune response, and low humidity causing an increase in viral transmission rates, perhaps due to dry air allowing small viral droplets to disperse farther and stay in the air longer.

D. Large dose of vitamin C supplements do not reduce the risk or severity of the common cold, though they may reduce its duration.