Why Isn’t There a Cure For the Common Cold?

The common cold is the most common human disease in the world. So, why haven't we found a cure yet?!

Called human rhinoviruses, these respiratory viruses measure between 15 to 30 nanometers in diameter, making them some of the smallest types of viruses out there. And it’s partly thanks to the viruses' genetic makeup that they’re so good at replicating.

Human rhinoviruses travel like most other respiratory viruses via nasal secretions, which can be released through sneezing, or through contact with fomites, which are surfaces like a keyboard or a doorknob that can help spread the virus from one person to another. From there, all it takes is for a hand to touch one of the body’s mucous membranes like the eyes, nose, or mouth and bam — the virus has gained entry.

Soon after infection, coughing, sneezing, headaches, a mild fever and body aches can soon follow. And these symptoms may easily be confused with those of the flu. But unlike the flu, where symptoms start quite suddenly, it can take a couple of days for cold symptoms to fully develop. And they usually last anywhere from 7 to 14 days.

#commoncold #flu #viruses #health #seeker #science #sick

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"There’s at least 160 different strains, or serotypes, of rhinovirus, Barlow says. That means cracking the cold isn’t so much looking for one solution to one problem as it is trying to design a master key to open hundreds of different locks at once."

In human cells and mice, a cure for the common cold, Stanford-UCSF study reports
"In a study published online Sept. 16 in Nature Microbiology, Carette and his associates found a way to stop a broad range of enteroviruses, including rhinoviruses, from replicating inside human cells in culture, as well as in mice."

Common cold combats influenza
"As the flu season approaches, a strained public health system may have a surprising ally — the common cold virus. Rhinovirus, the most frequent cause of common colds, can prevent the flu virus from infecting airways by jumpstarting the body’s antiviral defenses."
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SICK is a series that looks at how diseases actually work inside our body. We'll talk to top researchers and doctors to uncover the mysteries of viruses, bacteria, and our own immune system.

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[mihirjoshi]

After watching this video, I'm clear that Rhinoviruses are not connected to Rhinos... Amazing

[dvr_x]

the dude in the animation, he may have bigger problems than common cold. like not having skin...

[NapalmLlama]

This was just a video about the common cold. Very little about "why there isn't a cure."

[PaceyPimp]

3:47 bothers me how common it is for people to cough in their hands then touch everything.

[professordanfurmanek]

Hey guys at Seeker! We are all truly shocked! Very little scientific substance! Seems much more like a PSA commercial! Not to mention the Shameless Clorox icon. This is definitely beneath you!! Come on really?

[efilwv]

Answer - because their is like a gazillion strands of the Rhinovirus,

[menguardingtheirownwallets]

A scientist that I know of wears a mini-N95 mask that fits just over his nose and nothing else. He wears it during flu season, and he washing his hands after each time he returns home from shopping. During shopping, he only breathes in through his nose, through that mini-mask. Since doing this he has never caught the common cold, even though his other friends have.

[catherinebirch]

Iv'e been suffering from a really bad cold for a week now and it sucks.

[blindedbliss]

I'd like to install anti-virus software into my cells.

[Vector_Ze]

I'd heard decades ago that the answer to the question was that there are so many variants, enough to last a lifetime of colds. Add to that fact that they keep mutating and vaccines seem pretty hopeless. I'm just glad I'm one of 'those' fortunate ones who rarely catches a cold.

[UtraVioletDreams]

4:09 To keep those defenses high, you actually should get infected..You know. Our body's need to learn and all..

[KenzieTaylorlovekenziie]

I was confused at first why they were using soccer balls as representation for the virus.

[shroomdark]

Viruses act almost like a self replicating nano robot

[Melissa]

I wonder if they did actually find a cure for the common cold, if that would actually be a bad thing because our immune systems need all these viruses in order to work properly. If all the viruses were eradicated would that cause a huge spike in autoimmune diseases because people's immune systems wouldn't have anything to practice on? Maybe it might be similar to how they're saying that, this sort of thing is already happening because people are exposed to a lot less bacteria than in the past. Maybe not getting any viruses either, would make that issue even worse.

[AustinAOkay]

No fever, but fever feeling. Drowning is mucus, and crushing one sided headache ( inflamed sinus). Not serious but just enough to be terribly annoying

[平和-vz]

Hope scientist will solve this sometimes... 🍀

[maazfaridi]

You know you are doomed when a doc says do want you need to do

[nandinidhoke]

Is this a coincidence that you tube recommended this video while I am suffering from that irritating rhinovirus?🤧

[divyanshkhandelwal]

Always wanted to know the answer to this question, thanks 👍

[Shazistic]

Random fact

The average person will spend six months of their life waiting for red lights to turn green

-Shazistic