Cold and Flu Causes
Causes of cold and flu
More than 200 different virus subtypes are known to cause the symptoms of the common cold. An estimated 30% to 35% of all adult colds are due to rhinoviruses, while the flu is caused by the influenza virus (human influenza virus, type A and B).
Most cold and flu cases are more of a nuisance and highly treatable, but in certain populations, it can be a serious threat and can result in serious illness and death.
Help your patients manage cold and flu symptoms. Learn more about signs and symptoms and management.
Risk factors and complications
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Risk factors
Both colds and flu spread quickly through airborne droplets, personal contact, and touching of shared surfaces and items.
The common cold
While colds can occur anytime during the year, patients are more likely to contract a cold during the late fall and winter—since they spend more time indoors, exposed to more people in confined spaces.
Children suffer more colds annually than adults; they’re more susceptible due to their developing immune systems and close proximity to other children at school or daycare.
Other risk factors include:
- Smoking
- Compromised immune function due to chronic illness
The flu
- Those most at risk of the flu include:
- Children under age 5 (especially under 6 mos.)
- Older patients (over 65)
- Residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities
- Pregnant patients
- Patients with a weakened immune system due to disease (e.g., cancer) or medications (e.g., chemotherapy)
- Patients with a chronic illness (e.g., asthma, heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease)
- Patients with a BMI of 40 or higher
Read more about cold and flu
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Learn how to manage cold symptoms
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