Common Cold Common Cold: Symptoms, Home Care, Antibiotics, and When to Get Medical Care The common cold is a viral infection of the nose, throat, and upper airways. It can cause congestion, runny nose, sore throat, cough, sneezing, fatigue, and mild body aches. Most colds are mild and improve with time, rest, fluids, and supportive care. Even though colds are common, symptoms can overlap with COVID, flu, allergies, sinus infections, bronchitis, asthma flares, pneumonia, and o