Timeline of the common cold
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This is a timeline of common cold.
Sample questions
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Big picture
| Time period | Development summary | More details |
|---|
Full timeline
| Year | Event type | Details | Geographical location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prehistory | Origin theory | The common cold may have existed before Homo sapiens or emerged as humans formed agricultural communities, though its origins remain uncertain.[1] | Global |
| c. 2,000,000 BCE | Evolutionary context | Early human ancestors such as Homo erectus are exposed to animal viruses through hunting and environmental contact, potentially including precursors to cold viruses.[2] | Africa and Eurasia |
| c. 700,000 BCE | Viral ancestry | The last common ancestor of human adenovirus C, a virus capable of causing cold-like symptoms, is estimated to date to this period, possibly originating in primates.[2] | Likely Africa |
| c. 300,000 BCE | Early infections | Earliest Homo sapiens populations may have experienced infections resembling the common cold, although direct evidence is lacking due to poor viral preservation.[2] | Africa |
| c. 210,000 BCE | Human migration | Expansion of Homo sapiens out of Africa likely increases exposure to new pathogens, including respiratory viruses associated with the common cold.[2] | Africa to Eurasia |
| c. 6000–5000 BCE | Agricultural transition | The rise of agriculture and animal domestication creates conditions for zoonotic transmission, facilitating the spread of cold viruses among dense human populations.[2] | Multiple regions (early civilizations) |
| c. 1600 BCE | Early record | Symptoms and treatments of cold-like illness are described in the Ebers Papyrus, one of the oldest medical texts. [1] | Ancient Egypt |
| c. 1550 BCE | Early remedy | The Ebers Papyrus recommends incantations and medicinal mixtures (e.g., milk and fragrant gum) as treatments for cold-like symptoms.[3] | Ancient Egypt |
| c. 1000 BCE | Traditional remedy | Ancient Chinese medicine uses ma huang (ephedra) to treat nasal congestion, an early decongestant approach. [4] | China |
| c. 800–300 BCE | Medical theory | Early Greek thinkers attribute colds to cold exposure and internal imbalances rather than contagion. [4] | Ancient Greece |
| c. 400 BCE | Medical theory | Hippocrates proposes that colds are caused by accumulation of waste fluids in the brain. [4] | Greece |
| 400 BCE | Medical opinion | Hippocrates notes bloodletting as a common treatment for colds but criticizes it as ineffective. [1] | Greece |
| 1st century CE | Folk remedy | Roman philosopher Pliny recommends unusual remedies such as kissing a mouse’s muzzle for treating colds. [1] | Roman Empire |
| 16th century CE | Viral evidence | A coronavirus genome is identified in dental pulp from human remains in France, representing one of the earliest direct pieces of evidence of cold-related viruses in humans.[2] | France |
| 16th century | Terminology | The term “cold” comes into use, based on perceived similarity between symptoms and exposure to cold weather. [1] | Europe |
| 12th century | Treatment | Moses Maimonides endorses chicken soup as an effective remedy for respiratory illness. [4] | Middle East |
| Middle Ages | Folk practice | Bloodletting, leeches, and induced vomiting are used in Europe to treat colds based on humoral theories. [4] | Europe |
| Middle Ages | Preventive practice | Covering the mouth while sneezing becomes customary, unintentionally reducing viral transmission. [4] | Europe |
| 18th century | Scientific insight | Benjamin Franklin concludes that colds are transmitted between people rather than caused by cold weather exposure. [4] | United States |
| 1861 | Home remedy | Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management promotes hot toddy mixtures as a cure for colds. [4] | United Kingdom |
| 1880s | Vaccination method | Louis Pasteur pioneers vaccination techniques later applied in attempts to develop rhinovirus vaccines.[3] | France |
| 19th–20th century CE | Medical preservation | Chemically preserved human remains from the last two centuries provide material for studying historical viruses, improving understanding of recent cold virus evolution.[2] | Global (medical collections) |
| Pre-20th century | Medical observation | The common cold is recognized as a widespread condition with no effective cure, often treated symptomatically. [5] | Global |
| 1924 | Experimental treatment | U.S. President Calvin Coolidge undergoes chlorine gas inhalation therapy for a cold, reflecting ineffective early modern treatments.[3] | United States |
| 1946 | Research program | The Common Cold Unit (CCU) is established to study respiratory viruses using controlled human infection experiments.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 1946 | Research program | The Common Cold Unit is established to investigate causes and treatments of colds using human volunteers. [4] | United Kingdom |
| 1946–1989 | Scientific research | The Common Cold Unit conducts experiments, identifying major cold viruses such as rhinoviruses and coronaviruses. [4] | United Kingdom |
| 1953 | Virus discovery | Winston Price isolates a new respiratory virus (later identified as rhinovirus), distinguishing it from influenza.[3] | United States |
| 1956 | Scientific discovery | Rhinovirus is identified as a primary cause of the common cold by researchers at the Common Cold Unit. [1] | United Kingdom |
| 1957 | Vaccine trial | Price develops an early rhinovirus vaccine (“JH virus”); initial trials show reduced infections but later fail due to viral diversity.[3] | United States |
| 1960s | Viral diversity | Scientists discover dozens of rhinovirus serotypes, complicating vaccine development and undermining single-strain approaches.[3] | Global |
| 1960s–1970s | Vaccine experiments | Multi-serotype vaccines and interferon-based treatments are tested; results show limited real-world effectiveness.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 1970 | Popularization | Linus Pauling promotes high-dose vitamin C as a preventive treatment in his book Vitamin C and the Common Cold. [1] | United States |
| 1972 | Clinical experiment | CCU study shows interferon reduces cold infections in controlled settings but proves impractical for real-world treatment timing.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 1975 | Clinical trial | Last major human clinical trial of a rhinovirus vaccine is conducted, reinforcing skepticism about vaccine feasibility.[3] | Global |
| 1979 | Accidental discovery | Zinc gluconate is reported to alleviate cold symptoms after an accidental observation, sparking scientific interest. [1] | United States |
| 1985 | Patent development | Early patents are filed for zinc-based cold treatments, initiating commercial development. [1] | United States |
| 1980s | Research setback | Review reveals interferon treatment is ineffective outside laboratory conditions due to timing constraints.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 1980s | Epidemiology study | Research confirms that rhinoviruses account for more than 30% of adult colds and include over 100 antigenic types. [5] | Global |
| 1988 | Experimental therapy | Studies explore antiviral strategies such as receptor blockade to prevent rhinovirus infection. [5] | United States |
| 1989 | Interferon trials | Interferon-based therapies are tested but show limited effectiveness in preventing colds. [5] | Global |
| 1989 | Institutional closure | The Common Cold Unit closes after decades of research without discovering a definitive cure. [4] | United Kingdom |
| 1990 | Institutional closure | The Common Cold Unit closes after decades of research, highlighting the difficulty of curing the common cold.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 1990 | Clinical findings | Studies demonstrate adverse immune effects of common medications such as aspirin and acetaminophen in cold infections. [5] | Global |
| 1990 | Therapeutic research | Sauna and local hyperthermia are investigated as possible methods to reduce cold incidence or symptoms. [5] | Europe |
| 1990 | Drug effects | Research shows aspirin and acetaminophen may impair immune response and worsen cold symptoms. [5] | Global |
| 1992 | Clinical trial | Zinc gluconate formulations are tested, showing mixed results in reducing cold duration. [5] | Global |
| 1992 | Zinc trials | Clinical studies on zinc show modest or inconsistent benefits in reducing duration of cold symptoms. [5] | Global |
| 1992–1993 | Treatment trials | Trials evaluate antihistamines, decongestants, cromolyn, and menthol, showing limited or inconsistent effectiveness. [5] | Global |
| 1993 | Anti-inflammatory therapy | Naproxen is shown to relieve symptoms (e.g., headache, cough) without affecting viral shedding. [5] | Global |
| 1993 | Epidemiology study | Research links psychological stress and smoking with increased susceptibility to colds. [5] | United States |
| 1993 | Pathophysiology | Studies identify inflammatory mediators (e.g., bradykinin, interleukin-1) as key contributors to cold symptoms. [5] | Global |
| 1994 | Clinical imaging | Advanced imaging reveals sinus involvement and complications associated with common cold infections. [5] | Global |
| 1994 | Imaging studies | Advanced imaging reveals sinus involvement and other physiological abnormalities during colds. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Epidemiology | The common cold is established as a highly prevalent condition, with children experiencing 6–10 infections annually and adults 2–4.[5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Economic impact | Annual spending on cold treatments exceeds $2 billion in the United States, reflecting the disease’s societal burden. [5] | United States |
| Pre-1995 | Transmission | Research demonstrates that cold viruses spread via surfaces and hand-to-hand contact, not cold temperatures themselves. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Viral diversity | Identification of multiple viral causes of colds, including rhinoviruses (100+ types), coronaviruses, RSV, and others. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Risk factors | Studies link stress, smoking, and certain medications to increased susceptibility to colds. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Pathophysiology | Research identifies inflammatory mediators (e.g., kinins, interleukin-1) and immune responses as drivers of cold symptoms. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Disease course | Clinical studies show colds are self-limited infections with viral shedding lasting from days to weeks depending on the virus. [5] | Global |
| Pre-1995 | Complications | Evidence emerges that colds can exacerbate asthma, bronchitis, and lead to complications such as sinusitis and pneumonia. [5] | Global |
| 1995 | Patent issuance | “Cure for Common Cold” patent for zinc-based treatments is officially issued. [1] | United States |
| 1995 | Medical synthesis | Comprehensive review consolidates knowledge on epidemiology, virology, pathophysiology, and treatment limitations of the common cold. [5] | United States |
| 1995 | Medical review | Comprehensive review summarizes epidemiology, viral diversity, complications, and treatment limitations of the common cold. [5] | United States |
| 1990s | Research decline | Focus of virology shifts toward HIV/AIDS, reducing attention and funding for common cold research.[3] | Global |
| Late 20th century | Symptomatic therapy | Ipratropium bromide nasal spray is introduced to control rhinorrhea in upper respiratory infections. [5] | Global |
| Late 20th century | Emerging therapy | New antiviral strategies focus on blocking viral receptors, representing a potential future treatment direction. [5] | Global |
| Late 20th century | Treatment development | Anticholinergic therapies such as ipratropium bromide nasal spray are introduced to control rhinorrhea symptoms. [5] | Global |
| Late 20th century | Emerging therapy | Research explores antiviral approaches targeting viral attachment receptors as potential future treatments. [5] | Global |
| 2001 | Virus discovery | Human metapneumovirus is first isolated, expanding the known families of viruses causing cold-like illness.[3] | Netherlands |
| 2003 | Research collaboration | Imperial College researchers and Sanofi initiate efforts to develop a rhinovirus vaccine using conserved viral proteins.[3] | United Kingdom / France |
| 2007 | Viral classification | Discovery of rhinovirus C expands known rhinovirus strains to around 160 serotypes.[3] | Global |
| 2009 | Safety warning | Regulatory authorities warn against zinc nasal sprays due to risk of loss of smell (anosmia). [1] | United Kingdom |
| 2010 | Economic impact | UK sales of cold remedies reach £532 million, reflecting the large commercial market for symptom treatments. [4] | United Kingdom |
| 2013 | Research setback | Sanofi withdraws from rhinovirus vaccine development, returning patents to Imperial College due to shifting priorities.[3] | Global |
| 2014 | Research initiative | Martin Moore begins developing a multi-serotype rhinovirus vaccine approach after reviewing earlier failed studies.[3] | United States |
| 2016 | Vaccine research | Editorial in Expert Review of Vaccines suggests renewed feasibility of a rhinovirus vaccine using modern techniques.[3] | United Kingdom |
| 2016 | Experimental vaccine | Moore develops a 50-serotype rhinovirus vaccine showing strong antibody response in animal models.[3] | United States |
| 2017 | Ongoing research | Multiple academic and pharmaceutical groups pursue rhinovirus vaccines, though challenges in cost, scale, and efficacy remain.[3] | Global |
| 21st century CE | Scientific research | Advances in genomics allow identification of ancient DNA viruses such as adenovirus C in archaeological remains, though RNA viruses (common cold agents) remain difficult to recover.[2] | Global |
| 21st century | Clinical assessment | Studies on zinc and vitamin C show mixed or limited effectiveness in preventing or treating the common cold. [1] | Global |
| 21st century | Medical practice | Standard treatment focuses on symptom relief (rest, fluids, analgesics), as no cure exists for the common cold. [4] | Global |
Meta information on the timeline
How the timeline was built
The initial version of the timeline was written by Sebastian.
Funding information for this timeline is available.
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See also
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "History of common cold". The New Indian Express. 7 March 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Nahas, Kamal (30 April 2024). "When did humans start getting the common cold?". Live Science. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20 Davison, Nicola (6 October 2017). "Why can't we cure the common cold?". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 "Why can't we cure the common cold?". BBC News. 27 September 2011. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
- ↑ 5.00 5.01 5.02 5.03 5.04 5.05 5.06 5.07 5.08 5.09 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 Spector, Sheldon L. (1995). "The common cold: Current therapy and natural history". Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 95 (5): 1133–1138. doi:10.1016/S0091-6749(95)70218-0. PMC 7112258. PMID 7751530. Retrieved 13 April 2026.