By UTMB’s Dr. Sally Robinson: The illness we call the common cold is caused by a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract (nose, throat, and upper airway). This creates the inflammation of the mucous membranes that leads to the miserable stuffy head, runny nose, sneezing and sometimes a sore throat or cough. There are no drugs available that kill that virus. A cold cannot be “cured” by anything except time. The safest and cheapest approach is to let it run its course while you get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Dr. Robinson provides a list of what to do if you have a cold.