• Question: Everyone calls it a cold but what is the scientific name for it?

    Asked by anon-308593 on 27 Jan 2022.
    • Photo: Samuel Ellis

      Samuel Ellis answered on 27 Jan 2022:

      What we call a common cold is really just any viral infection of the upper respiratory system, so the nose and throat areas not down deep in the lungs. If you wanted a fancier name you could call it nasopharyngitis.

      It can be caused by a wide range of different viruses. Rhinovirus is the most common, but others include human coronaviruses (not SARS-CoV-2 but older ones), influenza and RSV.

    • Photo: Bhagteshwar Singh

      Bhagteshwar Singh answered on 31 Jan 2022:

      I agree with Samuel, but also doctors will sometimes called a cold, or the symptoms of a cold, coryza.

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