The common cold: current therapy and natural history.

Despite its prevalence, the common cold is complicated and can be difficult to treat, even symptomatically. There is still no cure for the myriad of viruses that cause the common cold. Many of the most popular remedies are either ineffective or counterproductive. This paper reviews the causes and course of upper respiratory infections, and discusses treatment options, including a new anticholinergic aqueous formulation for controlling rhinorrhea.