Giddy: Here we go again: The return of the common cold

Fichtenbaum told Giddy he receives special surveillance from a local hospital reporting the incidence of cold and flu symptoms.

"We often do extended tests where we look for all the common cold viruses," he said. "I've seen rhinoviruses and respiratory syncytial viruses circulating in the community, though I haven't yet seen much in the way of influenzas."

Additionally, Fichtenbaum noted the significant risk of children returning to school and bringing viruses home. "Parents then go to work, give it to their colleagues, and it circulates around the community—that's the natural circle of life of viruses."

The endurance and intensity of the common cold are dependent on which virus is causing the illness, the level of self-care and immune system functioning. Treatment is crucial for anyone asthmatic, immunocompromised or with respiratory conditions, as the cold can progress to secondary infections, pneumonia, bronchitis or the emergence of asthma symptoms.

"If you're an immune-suppressed person—say, you've had a transplant or are a cancer patient—and get the common cold, it can cause shortness of breath and pneumonia, and it might look almost like COVID-19," Fichtenbaum added.

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