What's up Doc? What causes the 'common cold' in my child? Published Feb. 28, 2008 By Maj. (Dr.) Amy Parker 47th Medical Group LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In case you haven't noticed, it's the cold and flu season, and chances are you, your family, your co-workers or your friends have been sick. The "common cold," also known as an upper respiratory tract infection, is most often caused by a virus. These viruses are spread from person to person by hand contact, coughing and sneezing, not by cold air or drafts. There are over 200 viruses that cause colds, and most healthy children get at least 6 URIs per year. Most of these are concentrated during the fall and winter months, and younger children are more prone to these infections, often getting colds more than six times per year. Symptoms of a virus include fever that may last three to five days and can be as high as 104 degrees, sore throat that may last five days, nasal discharge and congestion that may last two weeks and cough that may last three weeks. Signs of a bacterial infection include ear pain, yellow drainage from red eyes, sinus pain or rapid breathing. Yellow and/or green mucous can be a normal part of a viral URI, and the color of the drainage is not different between virus and bacteria. Sinus infections are suspected only if there is significant sinus pain and/or swelling over the sinus. In the next article we'll discuss what you can do about your child getting a cold.