The common cold is an inflammation of the mucosa of the throat and nose, caused by a kind of virus. Besides droplet transmission, the infection is often spread through touching and sometimes through the conjunctiva. Mucosal inflammation causes mucosal edema, which makes it difficult or impossible for air to flow. Mucus glands become overly active and produce large amounts of mucus. This leads to the forming of a watery discharge.
The common cold is treated by counteracting its initial symptoms, including high body temperature and coughing.
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