By 1925, when Popular Science reported the findings of the US Public Health Service’s first-ever survey on the common cold, many still clung to outdated beliefs despite four decades of germ science.

Common cold The common cold is one of the most frequent illnesses in children. Depending on the child's age, it can be normal to have eight to 12 colds per year.

There's no cure for the common cold, but there are ways to ease symptoms while the cold runs its course. Here's what helps and what to avoid, according to experts. Updated Feb. 28, 2025, 1:23 PM EST ...