Common cold

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/common-cold

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What causes the common cold?The common cold is caused by more than 200 different viruses. Rhinoviruses are the most common, making up about 30-50% of colds. Other viruses like coronaviruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, and RSV can also cause a cold.
2. Why do we sneeze and have a runny nose when we have a cold?When a cold virus infects the nose, the immune system reacts by producing mucus and sending immune cells to fight the virus. This reaction can make the nose run, cause sneezing, and sometimes lead to a cough or sore throat.

Virology: The scientific study of viruses, including their structure, classification, and behavior.
Innate Immunity: The body's first, non-specific line of defense against pathogens, involving physical barriers and early cellular responses.
Adaptive Immunity: A specific immune response that develops over time, involving antibodies and T cells tailored to target particular pathogens.
Epidemiology: The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations.