Quiz: The Truth About the Common Cold

Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on September 11, 2023
Question 1/14

How long can cold germs live on your bathroom sink?

  • 5 minutes
  • 1 hour
  • 3 hours
  • 24 hours
Question 2/14

By the time you have cold symptoms, you're not contagious anymore.

  • True
  • False
Question 3/14

What causes colds?

  • Bacteria
  • Molds and fungi
  • Viruses
  • An allergic reaction
Question 4/14

If you go outside with wet hair when it's chilly, you'll probably catch a cold.

  • True
  • False
Question 5/14

People catch more colds in winter because:

  • It's rainy and snowy
  • The days are shorter, so you get less sunlight
  • You spend more time indoors
  • People don't wash their hands as much in the winter
Question 6/14

Echinacea and vitamin C help prevent colds or shortens a cold if you already have one.

  • True
  • False
Question 7/14

When your preschooler has a cold, the best treatment is:

  • Over-the-counter cold medication
  • Rest and lots of fluids
  • Aspirin
  • Antibiotics
Question 8/14

Grandma was right: Chicken soup can help relieve a cold.

  • True
  • False
Question 9/14

The best way to prevent a cold is:

  • Stay inside as much as you can during the winter
  • Wash hands thoroughly and regularly
  • Avoid air travel during the winter
  • Take a lot of vitamins
Question 10/14

Even if your child seems to get a cold every month, it's probably not a sign of a more serious problem.

  • True
  • False
Question 11/14

It's probably the flu -- not just a cold -- if you have:

  • A dry cough
  • A runny nose
  • Fatigue
  • A high fever
Question 12/14

Stressed out? You're more likely to catch a cold.

  • True
  • False
Question 13/14

If you have a runny nose, green-tinged mucus means:

  • You have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics
  • It's not a cold, but the flu
  • Nothing -- it's normal
  • You're dehydrated
Question 14/14

The flu vaccine also works for colds.

  • True
  • False