How can the common cold still be a problem in this day and age?

[Scifan]

I hope that one day scientists will manage to develop a cure/successful treatment for the common cold. Or is this simply unachievable?

[RPengelly]

Main problem so far as I know is a virus' notoriously rapid mutation rate, meaning that should a cure be found, it would likely only be effective for one winter, with luck. This is the same reason as it being necessary to get a flu vaccine annually if high rish, as opposed to a more lastine protection provided by vaccines for bacterial diseases such as typhoid.

Additionally, of all the diseases to cure, is the common cold really a priority, apart from possibly mild economic damage due to sick days, what real damage does it do?

[PM]

2nd author is correct in saying that most forms of common cold are caused by viruses which has RNA as their genome compared to DNA viruses and in RNA viruses the rate of mutation (i.e. the capacity to change their building blocks) is extremely high thus most of the vaccines are ineffective for a long period for these.
I agree that it is still a severe human health problem over winter months when the incidence of these virus infections is very high and country's economy suffers a great deal.
It is annoying for scientific community but also a fact the these viruses are extremely clever at adapting to changing conditions and by the time we study one form they present another face and modification.

So despite the huge efforts of basic and clinical scientists they still pose a problem. However efforts are ongoing to defeat the viruses and one day we shall have an answer.

[jamieharle]

" In the USA it is estimated that the annual economic burden of common colds through lost working days etc. is around $5 billion "

source : http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/biosi/subsites/cold/alt.html

"Absence from work cost the UK economy £13.2 billion", of which stress and the common cold are the greatest reasons

source: http://www.cbi.org.uk/