Doctors and researchers question the efficacy of many common over-the-counter treatments for colds and flus. Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images hide caption
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common cold
Students stand for the Pledge of Allegiance as they return to in-person learning at St. Anthony Catholic High School in California on March 24. Masks and physical distancing are proving to have some major public health benefits, keeping people from getting all kinds of illnesses, not just COVID-19. But it's unclear whether the strict protocols would be worth the drawbacks in the long run. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Should Masking Last Beyond The Pandemic? Flu And Colds Are Down, Spurring A Debate
Is that sneezing or coughing fit a sign of allergies, a cold, the flu or COVID-19? If you also have a fever — a temperature above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher — those symptoms probably signal infection and not just allergies acting up. (Wait 30 minutes after eating or drinking to get an accurate measurement.) sestovic/Getty Images hide caption
The coronavirus outbreak began during the cold of winter in Wuhan, China. Scientists are asking if heat and humidity in countries like Malaysia (above, right) — and in regions where summer is soon starting — could slow transmission. Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images/ Lim Huey Teng/Reuters hide caption
Will Summer Slow The Spread Of COVID-19? Scientists Try To Figure It Out
A recovered coronavirus patient takes a selfie before being discharged from a hospital in Sri Lanka. Researchers are trying to determine whether having a case of COVID-19 will give you immunity. Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images hide caption
The city of Wuhan, epicenter of the current coronavirus outbreak. Jia Yu/Getty Images hide caption
Your body needs trace amounts of zinc for cell division and other basic biology. Nobody's sure how it works to shorten colds. Karl Tapales/Getty Images hide caption
A spoonful of honey makes the medicine...irrelevant. That's because honey works better than cough syrups to help with kids' coughs. But don't give honey to infants under one years old. Rachen Buosa/Getty Images/EyeEm hide caption
A visualization of the SARS virus. It is a type of coronavirus and displays the coronavirus' signature crownlike appearance under a microscope. 3D4MEDICAL/3D4MEDICAL hide caption
When Alexa Kasdan's sore throat lingered for more than a week, she went to her doctor. The doctor sent her throat swab and blood draw to an out-of-network lab for sophisticated DNA tests, resulting in a $28,395.50 bill. Shelby Knowles for Kaiser Health News hide caption
Feeling lonely? You may also experience more severe symptoms if you get a cold. Huan Tran/Ikon Images/Getty Images hide caption
People who don't get enough sleep show higher levels of inflammation, say scientists who study colds. Smoking, chronic stress and lack of exercise can make you more susceptible to the viruses, too. Frederic Cirou/PhotoAlto/Corbis hide caption
Just the sniffles? Could be the flu. iStockphoto hide caption
Sorry the vitamin D didn't help. Michael Kemter/iStockphoto.com hide caption