The common cold is an upper respiratory infection. It is a contagious illness you can get if you are not careful. Being extra careful is important. Knowing how it spreads can help you avoid contracting it. If you want to know how the common cold spreads, here are the details.
The common cold virus is spread often through direct contact or aerosol. The virus can transmit about 40,000 virus-rich droplets about 15 feet in cold, dry air. This happens each time an infected person sneezes. This easy transmission is the reason why many classrooms and offices are contaminated easily.
High humidity reduces the distance traveled by the virus when sneezed out. It makes it difficult for the virus to stay suspended in the air. This level of humidity has warm, heavy air. The virus cannot stay that long in this type of climate.
Contaminated surfaces can also spread the common cold. An infected person could sneeze on, cough on, or touch a surface. Other people could catch the virus left on that surface. Solid surfaces can transfer the cold virus better than porous ones.
This virus will attach to the mucous membranes. It will get into the nose, eyes, or mouth. Rhinovirus is the most common cold virus. This will attach to the upper respiratory tract within just 15 minutes of direct contact. It will start to infect the lining of the throat and nose. The mild symptoms will start to appear about eight to 10 hours after.
The individual will start having irritation in the throat and a runny nose. Sneezing will also begin. The symptoms will worsen a little over seven to 10 days. Fever, throat pain, and a little body pain will follow. A trip to the urgent care clinic will help bring down the symptoms.
It takes 24-72 hours for the cold virus to incubate. The infected person will develop more of the cold symptoms one to three days after exposure. The common cold symptoms include headache, sore throat, runny nose, coughing, and congestion. The infected individual may have only some of these symptoms. Even so, it would still be a type of cold or viral infection of some sort.
Cold symptoms may be similar to flu. However, influenza causes more severe symptoms. The infectious period is also different than that of the cold virus. For the common cold, the infected person is contagious for two to four days after the development of the symptoms.
Most colds last for a week. But it is still possible to spread the virus after the symptoms are done. The cold virus can live in the body for up to three weeks. The recovered individual could still spread the common cold virus.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Common Cold and Flu Treatment in Sterling, VA
The cold virus can spread easily, especially if people do not follow the steps to prevent the spread of the disease. Surfaces can harbor the virus for hours. The individual can also breathe in the virus. Spreading the common cold virus can happen during the infectious period. A trip to the urgent care center can help treat your mild cold symptoms.
Request an appointment or call Millennium Medical Care Stone Springs at 703-665-3242 for an appointment in our Sterling office.
Preventing the common cold is a good way to maintain your health. It saves you a trip or two to the nearest urgent care facility. Keeping yourself free from illness can also prevent you from missing work or classes. If you want to learn how to ward off the common cold, here are some lifestyle…
Getting the common cold is hardly an unusual occurrence. This sickness afflicts people of all ages perhaps more than any other health condition. Some people only get minor symptoms that go away within a few days. But other people can suffer significantly with a variety of ailments. It is helpful to understand what causes colds.…
The common cold or allergies: many people wonder which they have when certain symptoms come up. Both can affect people of all ages and can be miserable to deal with. Viruses cause colds, while allergies are the immune system’s response to a substance. There are ways to manage colds and allergies. Still, it is helpful…
Preventing the common cold is a good way to maintain your health. It saves you a trip or two to the nearest urgent care facility. Keeping yourself free from illness can also prevent you from missing work or classes. If you want to learn how to ward off the common cold, here are some lifestyle…
Immunizations, also known as vaccines, are injections that can prevent serious illness and improve individual health. Immunizations and vaccinations have helped prevent diseases that once spread rapidly through communities and killed infants and young children. Children who have had vaccinations against these contagious illnesses show improved health and wellness over time. Their enhanced immunity also…