Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location? It’s easily passed to others, especially within homes, classrooms and workplaces. More than 200 different viruses can cause colds. There’s no cure for a common cold, but it typically runs its course in a week to cold stone coffee ice cream days.

More than 200 different viruses can cause a cold, but most colds are caused by a rhinovirus. As its name implies, the common cold is widespread. You’ll probably have more colds in your lifetime than any other illness. Adults catch two to three colds a year, while young children come down with a cold four or more times a year. Colds spread from person to person. For you to become infected, the virus has to get to one of your mucous membranes — the moist lining of the nostrils, eyes or mouth.

That happens when you touch a surface or breathe moist air that contains the cold virus. For example, when a sick person sneezes or coughs, droplets of fluid containing the cold virus are launched into the air. If you breathe in those droplets, the cold virus takes root in your nose. You can also leave virus particles on surfaces you touch when you’re sick.