Common Cold

    Written by:
    Nick Milazzo

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Mike Murray, James Gaylor
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    “The common cold” is a catch-all term for certain mild viral upper respiratory tract infections. There are no cures for the common cold; treatments are focused primarily on improving symptoms. Fortunately, colds typically resolve on their own in 2–14 days.

    44 references on this page
    30,285 participants in 66 trials and 6 meta-analyses

    Overview

    Examine Database: Common Cold

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    Examine Database References

    1. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Tyrrell DA, Craig JW, Meada TW, White TA trial of ascorbic acid in the treatment of the common coldBr J Prev Soc Med.(1977 Sep)
    2. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - FRANZ WL, HEYL HL, SANDS GWBlood ascorbic acid level in bioflavonoid and ascorbic acid therapy of common coldJ Am Med Assoc.(1956 Nov 24)
    3. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Lewis TL, Karlowski TR, Kapikian AZ, Lynch JM, Shaffer GW, George DAA controlled clinical trial of ascorbic acid for the common coldAnn N Y Acad Sci.(1975 Sep 30)
    4. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Anderson TW, Reid DB, Beaton GHVitamin C and the common cold: a double-blind trialCan Med Assoc J.(1972 Sep 23)
    5. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Pitt HA, Costrini AMVitamin C prophylaxis in marine recruitsJAMA.(1979 Mar 2)
    6. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Schwartz AR, Togo Y, Hornick RB, Tominaga S, Gleckman RAEvaluation of the efficacy of ascorbic acid in prophylaxis of induced rhinovirus 44 infection in manJ Infect Dis.(1973 Oct)
    7. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Anderson TW, Beaton GH, Corey P, Spero LWinter illness and vitamin C: the effect of relatively low dosesCan Med Assoc J.(1975 Apr 5)
    8. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Carson M, Cox H, Corbett M, Pollitt NVitamin C and the common coldJ Soc Occup Med.(1975 Jul)
    9. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Miller JZ, Nance WE, Norton JA, Wolen RL, Griffith RS, Rose RJTherapeutic effect of vitamin C. A co-twin control studyJAMA.(1977 Jan 17)
    10. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Charleston SS, Clegg KMAscorbic acid and the common coldLancet.(1972 Jun 24)
    11. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Ludvigsson J, Hansson LO, Tibbling GVitamin C as a preventive medicine against common colds in childrenScand J Infect Dis.(1977)
    12. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Kim TK, Lim HR, Byun JSVitamin C supplementation reduces the odds of developing a common cold in Republic of Korea Army recruits: randomised controlled trialBMJ Mil Health.(2020 Mar 5)
    13. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Clegg KM, Macdonald JML-Ascorbic acid and D-isoascorbic acid in a common cold surveyAm J Clin Nutr.(1975 Sep)
    14. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Elwood PC, Lee HP, St Leger AS, Baird M, Howard ANA randomized controlled trial of vitamin C in the prevention and amelioration of the common coldBr J Prev Soc Med.(1976 Sep)
    15. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Van Straten M, Josling PPreventing the common cold with a vitamin C supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled surveyAdv Ther.(2002 May-Jun)
    16. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Karlowski TR, Chalmers TC, Frenkel LD, Kapikian AZ, Lewis TL, Lynch JMAscorbic acid for the common cold. A prophylactic and therapeutic trialJAMA.(1975 Mar 10)
    17. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Carr AB, Einstein R, Lai LY, Martin NG, Starmer GAVitamin C and the common cold: a second MZ Cotwin control studyActa Genet Med Gemellol (Roma).(1981)
    18. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Walker GH, Bynoe ML, Tyrrell DATrial of ascorbic acid in prevention of coldsBr Med J.(1967 Mar 11)
    19. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Dahlberg G, Engel A, Rydin HThe Value of Ascorbic Acid as a Prophylactic against Common ColdsActa Medica Scandinavica.()
    20. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Cowdan D, Diehl H, Baker ABVitamins For The Prevention Of ColdsJAMA.()
    21. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Sabiston BH, Radomski MWHealth problems and vitamin C in Canadian northern military operations.()
    22. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Himmelstein S, Robergs R, Koehler K, Lewis S, Qualls CVitamin C supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in marathon runnersJ Exerc Physiol Online.()
    23. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Audera C, Patulny RV, Sander BH, Douglas RMMega-dose vitamin C in treatment of the common cold: a randomised controlled trialMed J Aust.(2001 Oct 1)
    24. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Elwood PC, Hughes SJ, Leger ASA randomized controlled trial of the therapeutic effect of vitamin C in the common coldPractitioner.(1977 Jan)
    25. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Gorton HC, Jarvis KThe effectiveness of vitamin C in preventing and relieving the symptoms of virus-induced respiratory infectionsJ Manipulative Physiol Ther.(1999 Oct)
    26. Common Cold Symptoms - Ineffectiveness of vitamin C in treating coryza.Practitioner.(1968 Mar)
    27. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Josling PPreventing the common cold with a garlic supplement: a double-blind, placebo-controlled surveyAdv Ther.(2001 Jul-Aug)
    28. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Nantz MP, Rowe CA, Muller CE, Creasy RA, Stanilka JM, Percival SSSupplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition interventionClin Nutr.(2012 Jun)
    29. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Martineau AR, Hanifa Y, Witt KD, Barnes NC, Hooper RL, Patel M, Stevens N, Enayat Z, Balayah Z, Syed A, Knight A, Jolliffe DA, Greiller CL, McLaughlin D, Venton TR, Rowe M, Timms PM, Clark D, Sadique Z, Eldridge SM, Griffiths CJDouble-blind randomised controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory infection in older adults and their carers (ViDiFlu)Thorax.(2015 Oct)
    30. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Shimizu Y, Ito Y, Yui K, Egawa K, Orimo HIntake of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Reduces Duration and Severity of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Comparison StudyJ Nutr Health Aging.(2018)
    31. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Rees JR, Hendricks K, Barry EL, Peacock JL, Mott LA, Sandler RS, Bresalier RS, Goodman M, Bostick RM, Baron JAVitamin D3 supplementation and upper respiratory tract infections in a randomized, controlled trialClin Infect Dis.(2013 Nov)
    32. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Aglipay M, Birken CS, Parkin PC, Loeb MB, Thorpe K, Chen Y, Laupacis A, Mamdani M, Macarthur C, Hoch JS, Mazzulli T, Maguire JL, TARGet Kids! CollaborationEffect of High-Dose vs Standard-Dose Wintertime Vitamin D Supplementation on Viral Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Young Healthy ChildrenJAMA.(2017 Jul 18)
    33. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Goodall EC, Granados AC, Luinstra K, Pullenayegum E, Coleman BL, Loeb M, Smieja MVitamin D3 and gargling for the prevention of upper respiratory tract infections: a randomized controlled trialBMC Infect Dis.(2014 May 19)
    34. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Loeb M, Dang AD, Thiem VD, Thanabalan V, Wang B, Nguyen NB, Tran HTM, Luong TM, Singh P, Smieja M, Maguire J, Pullenayegum EEffect of Vitamin D supplementation to reduce respiratory infections in children and adolescents in Vietnam: A randomized controlled trialInfluenza Other Respir Viruses.(2019 Mar)
    35. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Denlinger LC, King TS, Cardet JC, Craig T, Holguin F, Jackson DJ, Kraft M, Peters SP, Ross K, Sumino K, Boushey HA, Jarjour NN, Wechsler ME, Wenzel SE, Castro M, Avila PC, NHLBI AsthmaNet InvestigatorsVitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of Colds in Patients with AsthmaAm J Respir Crit Care Med.(2016 Mar 15)
    36. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, Fitzgerald JT, Snell DC, Steinberg JD, Cardozo LJZinc supplementation decreases incidence of infections in the elderly: effect of zinc on generation of cytokines and oxidative stressAm J Clin Nutr.(2007 Mar)
    37. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Farr BM, Conner EM, Betts RF, Oleske J, Minnefor A, Gwaltney JM JrTwo randomized controlled trials of zinc gluconate lozenge therapy of experimentally induced rhinovirus coldsAntimicrob Agents Chemother.(1987 Aug)
    38. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Al-Nakib W, Higgins PG, Barrow I, Batstone G, Tyrrell DAProphylaxis and treatment of rhinovirus colds with zinc gluconate lozengesJ Antimicrob Chemother.(1987 Dec)
    39. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Hemilä HZinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate, and the role of zinc dosageJRSM Open.(2017 May 2)
    40. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Godfrey JC, Conant Sloane B, Smith DS, Turco JH, Mercer N, Godfrey NJZinc gluconate and the common cold: a controlled clinical studyJ Int Med Res.(1992 Jun)
    41. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Eby GA, Davis DR, Halcomb WWReduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind studyAntimicrob Agents Chemother.(1984 Jan)
    42. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Prasad AS, Beck FW, Bao B, Snell D, Fitzgerald JTDuration and severity of symptoms and levels of plasma interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor, and adhesion molecules in patients with common cold treated with zinc acetateJ Infect Dis.(2008 Mar 15)
    43. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Hemilä H, Haukka J, Alho M, Vahtera J, Kivimäki MZinc acetate lozenges for the treatment of the common cold: a randomised controlled trialBMJ Open.(2020 Jan 23)
    44. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Mossad SB, Macknin ML, Medendorp SV, Mason PZinc gluconate lozenges for treating the common cold. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyAnn Intern Med.(1996 Jul 15)
    45. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Turner RB, Cetnarowski WEEffect of treatment with zinc gluconate or zinc acetate on experimental and natural coldsClin Infect Dis.(2000 Nov)
    46. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Prasad AS, Fitzgerald JT, Bao B, Beck FW, Chandrasekar PHDuration of symptoms and plasma cytokine levels in patients with the common cold treated with zinc acetate. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialAnn Intern Med.(2000 Aug 15)
    47. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Weismann K, Jakobsen JP, Weismann JE, Hammer UM, Nyholm SM, Hansen B, Lomholt KE, Schmidt KZinc gluconate lozenges for common cold. A double-blind clinical trialDan Med Bull.(1990 Jun)
    48. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Petrus E, Lawson K, Bucci L, Blum KRandomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical study of the effectiveness of zinc acetate lozenges on common cold symptoms in allergy-tested subjectsCurr Ther Res.()
    49. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Turner RB, Riker DK, Gangemi JDIneffectiveness of echinacea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus coldsAntimicrob Agents Chemother.(2000 Jun)
    50. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Turner RB, Bauer R, Woelkart K, Hulsey TC, Gangemi JDAn evaluation of Echinacea angustifolia in experimental rhinovirus infectionsN Engl J Med.(2005 Jul 28)
    51. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Jawad M, Schoop R, Suter A, Klein P, Eccles RSafety and Efficacy Profile of Echinacea purpurea to Prevent Common Cold Episodes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled TrialEvid Based Complement Alternat Med.(2012)
    52. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Linde K, Barrett B, Wölkart K, Bauer R, Melchart DEchinacea for preventing and treating the common coldCochrane Database Syst Rev.(2006 Jan 25)
    53. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Grimm W, Müller HHA randomized controlled trial of the effect of fluid extract of Echinacea purpurea on the incidence and severity of colds and respiratory infectionsAm J Med.(1999 Feb)
    54. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - David S, Cunningham REchinacea for the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory tract infections: A systematic review and meta-analysisComplement Ther Med.(2019 Jun)
    55. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Schoop R, Klein P, Suter A, Johnston SLEchinacea in the prevention of induced rhinovirus colds: a meta-analysisClin Ther.(2006 Feb)
    56. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Sperber SJ, Shah LP, Gilbert RD, Ritchey TW, Monto ASEchinacea purpurea for prevention of experimental rhinovirus coldsClin Infect Dis.(2004 May 15)
    57. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, Coleman CIEvaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment of the common cold: a meta-analysisLancet Infect Dis.(2007 Jul 25)
    58. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Risk - Taylor JA, Weber W, Standish L, Quinn H, Goesling J, McGann M, Calabrese CEfficacy and safety of echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized controlled trialJAMA.(2003 Dec 3)
    59. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Goel V, Lovlin R, Chang C, Slama JV, Barton R, Gahler R, Bauer R, Goonewardene L, Basu TKA proprietary extract from the echinacea plant (Echinacea purpurea) enhances systemic immune response during a common coldPhytother Res.(2005 Aug)
    60. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Yale SH, Liu KEchinacea purpurea therapy for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trialArch Intern Med.(2004 Jun 14)
    61. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Barrett B, Brown R, Rakel D, Mundt M, Bone K, Barlow S, Ewers TEchinacea for treating the common cold: a randomized trialAnn Intern Med.(2010 Dec 21)
    62. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Schulten B, Bulitta M, Ballering-Brühl B, Köster U, Schäfer MEfficacy of Echinacea purpurea in patients with a common cold. A placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blind clinical trialArzneimittelforschung.(2001)
    63. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Goel V, Lovlin R, Barton R, Lyon MR, Bauer R, Lee TD, Basu TKEfficacy of a standardized echinacea preparation (Echinilin) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Clin Pharm Ther.(2004 Feb)
    64. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Brinkeborn RM, Shah DV, Degenring FHEchinaforce and other Echinacea fresh plant preparations in the treatment of the common cold. A randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind clinical trialPhytomedicine.(1999 Mar)
    65. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Barton R, Tapan B, Lyon MEfficacy of a standardized echinacea preparation (EchinilinTM) for the treatment of the common cold: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trialJ Clin Pharm Ther.()
    66. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Cáceres DD, Hancke JL, Burgos RA, Sandberg F, Wikman GKUse of visual analogue scale measurements (VAS) to asses the effectiveness of standardized Andrographis paniculata extract SHA-10 in reducing the symptoms of common cold. A randomized double blind-placebo studyPhytomedicine.(1999 Oct)
    67. Sore Throat Symptoms - Thamlikitkul V, Dechatiwongse T, Theerapong S, Chantrakul C, Boonroj P, Punkrut W, Ekpalakorn W, Boontaeng N, Taechaiya S, Petcharoen S, et alEfficacy of Andrographis paniculata, Nees for pharyngotonsillitis in adultsJ Med Assoc Thai.(1991 Oct)
    68. Upper Respiratory Tract Infection Symptoms - Hawkins J, Baker C, Cherry L, Dunne EBlack elderberry (Sambucus nigra) supplementation effectively treats upper respiratory symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized, controlled clinical trials.Complement Ther Med.(2019-Feb)
    69. Common Cold Symptoms - Pach D, Knöchel B, Lüdtke R, Wruck K, Willich SN, Witt CMVisiting a sauna: does inhaling hot dry air reduce common cold symptoms? A randomised controlled trial.Med J Aust.(2010)
    70. Nasal Congestion - Taverner D, Danz C, Economos DThe effects of oral pseudoephedrine on nasal patency in the common cold: a double-blind single-dose placebo-controlled trialClin Otolaryngol Allied Sci.(1999 Feb)
    71. Nasal Congestion - Loose I, Winkel MClinical, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigating the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and pseudoephedrine for the symptomatic treatment of nasal congestion associated with common coldArzneimittelforschung.(2004)
    72. Vaccine Augmentation - Scaglione F, Cattaneo G, Alessandria M, Cogo REfficacy and safety of the standardised Ginseng extract G115 for potentiating vaccination against the influenza syndrome and protection against the common cold correctedDrugs Exp Clin Res.(1996)