The common cold is a type of viral infection of the upper respiratory tract which primarily affects the nose. There are no known actual causes of the virus of the common cold and only antibiotics are the available treatment for it. It is the most frequent infectious disease in humans both for children and adults alike. When a person has a common cold symptoms may last within 7 to 10 days. If left untreated it may lead to a viral pneumonia or a bacterial pneumonia.