[22] The typical symptoms of a cold include cough, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a sore throat, sometimes accompanied by muscle ache, fatigue, headache, and loss of appetite.

[4] While a cough and a fever indicate a higher likelihood of influenza in adults, a great deal of similarity exists between these two conditions.

[25][26] The color of the mucus or nasal secretion may vary from clear to yellow to green and does not indicate the class of agent causing the infection.

[27] A cold usually begins with fatigue, a feeling of being chilled, sneezing, and a headache, followed in a couple of days by a runny nose and cough.

[34] The common cold virus is typically transmitted via airborne droplets, direct contact with infected nasal secretions, or fomites (contaminated objects).

[38] The viruses may survive for prolonged periods in the environment (over 18 hours for rhinoviruses) and can be picked up by people's hands and subsequently carried to their eyes or noses where infection occurs.

[36] Transmission from animals is considered highly unlikely; an outbreak documented at a British scientific base on Adelaide Island after seventeen weeks of isolation was thought to have been caused by transmission from a contaminated object or an asymptomatic human carrier, rather than from the husky dogs which were also present at the base.

[39] Transmission is common in daycare and schools due to the proximity of many children with little immunity and poor hygiene.

[37] Herd immunity, generated from previous exposure to cold viruses, plays an important role in limiting viral spread, as seen with younger populations that have greater rates of respiratory infections.

[41][42] Insufficient sleep and malnutrition have been associated with a greater risk of developing infection following rhinovirus exposure; this is believed to be due to their effects on immune function.

[49] In young children, when it affects the trachea, it may produce the symptoms of croup, due to the small size of their airways.

[49] The distinction between viral upper respiratory tract infections is loosely based on the location of symptoms, with the common cold affecting primarily the nose (rhinitis), throat (pharyngitis), and lungs (bronchitis).

[4] Isolation of the viral agent involved is rarely performed,[50] and it is generally not possible to identify the virus type through symptoms.

[4] The only useful ways to reduce the spread of cold viruses are physical and engineering measures[10] such as using correct hand washing technique, respirators, and improvement of indoor air.

[53] Regular hand washing appears to be effective in reducing the transmission of cold viruses, especially among children.

[54] Wearing face masks when around people who are infected may be beneficial; however, there is insufficient evidence for maintaining a greater social distance.

[13] Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids to maintain hydration, and gargling with warm salt water are reasonable conservative measures.

[61] Cough medicines are not recommended for use in children due to a lack of evidence supporting effectiveness and the potential for harm.

[62][63] In 2009, Canada restricted the use of over-the-counter cough and cold medication in children six years and under due to concerns regarding risks and unproven benefits.

[66] Due to lack of studies, it is not known whether increased fluid intake improves symptoms or shortens respiratory illness.

[73] One study has found chest vapor rub to provide some relief of nocturnal cough, congestion, and sleep difficulty.

[75][76] It is regarded as safe to perform moderate exercise if the symptoms are confined to the head, including runny nose, nasal congestion, sneezing, or a minor sore throat.

[75][76] There is a popular belief that having a hot drink can help with cold symptoms, but evidence to support this is very limited.

[87] There is no firm evidence that Echinacea products or garlic provide any meaningful benefit in treating or preventing colds.

[88][89] Vitamin C supplementation does not affect the incidence of the common cold, but may reduce its duration if taken on a regular basis.

[97] Possible explanations may include cold temperature-induced changes in the respiratory system,[98] decreased immune response,[99] and low humidity causing an increase in viral transmission rates, perhaps due to dry air allowing small viral droplets to disperse farther and stay in the air longer.

[40][97] Although normal exposure to cold does not increase one's risk of infection, severe exposure leading to significant reduction of body temperature (hypothermia) may put one at a greater risk for the common cold: although controversial, the majority of evidence suggests that it may increase susceptibility to infection.

[22] Its symptoms and treatment are described in the Egyptian Ebers papyrus, the oldest existing medical text, written before the 16th century BCE.

[94] In the United States, the common cold leads to 75–100 million physician visits annually at a conservative cost estimate of $7.7 billion per year.

When added to the 150 million workdays missed by employees who have a cold, the total economic impact of cold-related work loss exceeds $20 billion per year.