普通感冒，医学上称为急性上呼吸道感染或急性鼻咽炎，是一种轻微的上呼吸道（鼻及喉部）病毒性感染。不论在病因、症状、病情的发展，全都不同于流行性感冒，而且程度上相对于流行性感冒是较为轻微，所以普通感冒也常被直接称为「感冒」。

研究显示超过200种病毒与普通感冒的病因有关，症状包括咳嗽、打喷嚏、抽鼻涕、流鼻水、鼻塞、咽喉痛或有痰、头痛以及疲倦等，也可能产生肠胃方面的症状，诸如腹胀、腹痛、腹泻，这些症状大多是由人体的自体免疫反应所引起，而不是病毒造成的组织破坏。上呼吸道感染影响的区域又可以大致划分为鼻子、喉咙和鼻窦。大部分症状通常在七到十天内可以解除，但某些症状可能会持续三个星期以上。

Common cold, also known simply as a cold, is a viral infectious disease of the upper respiratory tract that primarily affects the nose. Signs and symptoms may begin less than two days following exposure. They include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, headache, and fever. People usually recover in seven to ten days. Some symptoms may last up to three weeks. In those with other health problems, pneumonia may occasionally develop.