Common Cold Facts
It is called the "common cold" for good reason. People suffer from over one billion colds in the United States each year, more than any other type of illness. Although the common cold is usually mild, with symptoms ranging from sneezing, to a scratchy throat, to a runny nose, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work. While colds can occur year around, most colds spread during the fall and winter.
Children are particularly susceptible to colds because they are often in close contact with each other in schools and day care centers. With children averaging 6 to 10 colds a year, over 22 million school days are lost annually in the U.S. due to the common cold. Your family doesn't need to be part of this statistic. Give your kids their sprays! Taking their sprays can be done twice per day after brushing their teeth.
Adults average 2 to 4 colds a year, with people older than 60 having less than one cold a year.
People are most contagious for the first 2 to 3 days of a cold, lessening by day 7. You usually 'catch' a cold by inhaling the virus when sitting close to someone who coughs or sneezes; however, a cold can also spread by hand through your nose, eyes, or mouth, after you have touched something contaminated by the virus.
