The medical term to describe the common cold is an upper respiratory infection (URI). This is often caused by a virus that infects your nose, throat and mouth. There are more than 200 different viruses responsible, with rhinoviruses being the most common. In one cross-sectional study published in 2016, scientists in India analyzed the incidence of URIs in rural and urban populations. There were a total of 3,498 people checked during the study, out of which 287 had an upper respiratory infection at the time. Children were infected more often than adults, especially those younger than Antibiotic prescriptions are not recommended for children or adults with a common cold because those medications treat bacterial, rather than viral infections. The CDC recommends focusing on symptomatic relief, as: “There is potential for harm and no proven benefit from over-the-counter cough and cold medications in children < 6 years. These substances are among …