The Common Cold and Viral Infection

Having a common cold is more than just having the sniffles. It can weaken you and make you miserable. The upside to this is that it is self-limiting. But you will be contagious during its onslaught. If you want to know more about the common cold and how a viral infection happens, here are the details.

What the common cold is

This is a disease capable of transferring from one person to another. An individual can have it through inhalation and direct contact. This upper respiratory tract infection can cause sore throat, nasal congestion, and sneezing. At least 200 types of viruses can cause colds. The most common among these is the rhinovirus.

The rhinovirus can affect anyone at any time of the year. Its ideal temperature for multiplying is in the nose. The peak infection for this virus is from September to November. The number of cases also rise from March to May.

Old viruses remain active in causing the common cold. There are also new ones developing all the time. That is why many school-age children contract about six to 12 colds every year. Teens and adults get two to four colds each year. Going to a local urgent care facility is in order if a cold lasts for more than 10 days.

Facts about the virus

Viruses are tiny particulates of either RNA or DNA. Each one is enveloped in a protein coat. Some of them have a fatty covering. Viruses cannot multiply by themselves. That is why they must infect hosts to survive.

These microorganisms often play the enemy in many situations. But viruses also do many good things for the living beings on Earth. A virus can protect its host from other threatening infections. It can transfer genes from different species into other species.

What a viral infection is

This is an event in which a harmful virus thrives in the host’s body. A virus cannot multiply without the help of its host. It must infect the host by injecting its genetic material into the host’s cells. Then, the virus hijacks the cell’s mechanisms to make more of the same virus. An active viral infection allows the virus to make many copies of itself inside host cells until each cell bursts. This kills the host cells and sets the new virus duplicates free.

The mode of transmission

Viral transmission can happen in different ways. Some viruses, like the common cold, spread through the air, touch, or saliva. Other viruses need direct contact with blood or the sexual act for transmission. Vectors like insects can play the role of transmitting a virus. An infectious virus can also enter the body through contaminated water and food.