MODEL RELEASED. Common cold. Woman suffering from a common cold clutches a hot water bottle while resting in the sitting room of her home. The common cold is a viral infection which affects children more commonly than adults. Head colds are the most frequent, with infection confined to the nose and throat. Symptoms may include chills, headache, listlessness, aching muscles and bones, and slight fever. Treatment includes keeping warm and rested, while the immune system counteracts the viral infection.