Risk for the Common cold

All children are at risk for the common cold. They are more likely than adults to get a cold. Here are some reasons why:

• Less resistance. A child’s immune system is not as strong as an adult’s when it comes to fighting cold germs.
• Winter season. Most respiratory illnesses happen in fall and winter, when children are indoors and around more germs. The humidity also drops during this season. This makes the passages in the nose drier and at greater risk for infection.
• School or daycare. Colds spread easily when children are in close contact.
• Hand-to-mouth contact. Children are likely to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth without washing their hands. This is the most common way germs are spread.