Adults average about 2 to 4 colds a year, although the range varies widely. Women, especially those aged 20 to 30 years, have more colds than men, possibly because of their closer contact with children. On average, people older than age 60 have fewer than one cold a year.
While adults shouldn't expect to get more than two to four colds a year, this goes out the window if you have young children. That's because once kids start daycare, they're on track for six to 12 colds a year.
Babies, toddlers, and preschoolers get about seven to eight colds a year. And during school age, they average five to six colds a year. Teenagers finally reach an adult level of four colds a year. And in addition to colds, children get the lovely diarrhea illnesses, with or without vomiting, two to three times a year.
You're Overexposed to the Cold Virus
There are over 200 known viruses that can cause the common cold. So even if you've had a cold before, your immune system probably hasn't built up defenses against every virus strain that can lead to a cold. Another reason could be that you're around a lot of people who are sick.
A number of different viruses can cause a cold, so it's possible to have several colds one after the other, as each one may be caused by a different virus.
Frequently getting sick can be disruptive as well as uncomfortable. It may also lead to more serious health complications over time. For this reason, it is important to identify the causes of frequent sickness and deal with them effectively.
The main reason your child is getting all those infections is that he or she is being exposed to new viruses all the time. The viruses are everywhere no matter how much you sanitize and clean. There are at least 200 different cold viruses and they're constantly getting tricky, mutating all the time.
Back to school means a lot of things: new backpacks, new subjects to learn…and new germs. Frequent illness is a normal part of childhood – in fact, it's perfectly normal for your child to come down with respiratory and/or stomach bugs six to eight times each year!
Most teens get between two and four colds a year. That's not surprising — colds are the most common infectious disease in the United States, and cause more school absences than any other illness.
It is very common for toddlers and pre-school-aged children to have as many as 8 to 12 colds, respiratory infections and/or stomach bugs a year. School-age children and preteens average five or six illnesses annually; teens and adults may have two to three colds or illnesses per year.
Water, juice, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey helps loosen congestion and prevents dehydration. Avoid alcohol, coffee and caffeinated sodas, which can make dehydration worse. Rest. Your body needs rest to heal.
Although not super exciting, very plain and bland foods can help ease symptoms. Try pasta, dry cereals, oatmeal, bread and crackers. But bland doesn't mean you can't add protein or veggies into the mix if you're feeling up for it! Try eating rice and baked chicken breast or cheese and crackers.
Vitamin C does not prevent colds and only slightly reduces their length and severity. A 2013 review of scientific literature found that taking vitamin C regularly did not reduce the likelihood of getting a cold but was linked to small improvements in cold symptoms.
We repeatedly get colds because when we develop immunity to one type of virus that can cause colds, another comes along to which we don't have immunity. Some of these mutate over time and “escape” from the antibodies we have produced to a previous infection.
If you wake up with classic cold symptoms like a stuffy nose and sore throat multiple times a year, that's actually completely normal. As it turns out, some people are just primed to get colds more easily and frequently than others, experts told TODAY.
Adults have an average of 2-3 colds per year, and children have even more. Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get a cold any time of the year. Symptoms usually include: sore throat.
Research shows that the immune system follows a circadian rhythm and that the cells involved in healing and inflammation tend to rev up in the evening. Some evidence suggests that more white blood cells (WBCs) are sent to your tissues to fight off infection during the night compared to the day.
There is no way to get rid of a cold fast. A cold will usually go away on its own without treatment. However, a person may experience uncomfortable symptoms while they recover. People can take steps to aid recovery, such as getting plenty of rest.
The average baby, toddler and child can get around 7 to 8 colds every year, at any time of year, not just in winter. By the time they reach school age that should reduce to around 5 to 6 times a year and when they become teenagers they reach the adult level of around 4 colds a year.
You can spread the common cold from a few days before your symptoms appear until all of the symptoms are gone. Most people will be contagious for up to 2 weeks. Symptoms are usually worse during the first 2 to 3 days, and this is when you're most likely to spread the virus.