Changes

The '''Common cold''' is probably the most common [[illness]] in the world. It is characterized by sneezing, a scratchy throat, a stuffy nose, and coughing.  In the course of a year, people in the [[United States]] suffer 1 billion colds.

The '''common cold''' is probably the most common [[illness]] in the world. It is characterized by sneezing, a scratchy throat, a stuffy nose, and coughing.  In the course of a year, people in the [[United States]] suffer 1 billion colds.

You can get a cold by touching your eyes or nose after you touch surfaces with cold germs on them. You can also inhale the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Washing your hands and staying away from people with colds will help you avoid colds.

A cold is typically acquired by touching one's eyes or nose after touching surfaces with cold germs on them, or by inhaling the germs. Symptoms usually begin 2 or 3 days after infection and last 2 to 14 days. Colds can be avoided by frequent handwashing and by staying away from infected individuals.

There is currently no cure for the common cold.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/commoncold.html</ref>

There is currently no cure for the common cold.<ref>http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/commoncold.html</ref>