A cold, flu or nasopharyngitis is a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract (nose and throat). It is a type of disease that can be seen in all seasons of the year and is common all over the world. Even if the infection process causes great discomfort, it is usually harmless. The common cold can be caused by many different types of viruses.

It is usually active during seasonal transitions, when sudden temperature changes are on the agenda. There are more than 200 viruses that cause the common cold.

Respiratory viruses settle on the nasal mucosa and cause nasal congestion. The body tries to get rid of these viruses through sneezing and runny nose. Symptoms are not caused by the virus damaging tissues in the upper respiratory tract, but by the immune system’s reaction to the infection.

A cold that normally goes away on its own within 7-10 days will take longer to heal if it causes diseases such as sinusitis, otitis media or pneumococcus.