HOW THE VIRUS GETS AROUND

Depending upon whose research you choose to believe, colds are spread from person to person in either, or both, of two ways: (1) from a hand contaminated with a cold virus to the hand (sometimes via a door knob or telephone) of someone susceptible to that virus, who then transfers the microorganism to his or her own eyes or nose; or (2) by virus-contaminated droplets sprayed into the air when an infected person sneezes, which are then inhaled by someone susceptible to that virus.

About the only thing everyone seems to agree on is that kissing someone with a cold—even kissing on the mouth and soul-kissing—rarely spreads the virus to susceptible people. Even sneezing and coughing are unlikely routes for spreading cold viruses, experts maintain. This is because cold viruses live in the cells of the nasal passages and are shed through secretions from the nose. Sneezes and coughs primarily contain secretions from the mouth and throat, not the nose (though, understandably, few healthy people would feel comfortable sitting near someone with a cold who is coughing and sneezing).

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Anti-Infectives