普通感冒大多由种类众多的鼻病毒导致(高达 50%)。[8]Harris AM, Hicks LA, Qaseem A. Appropriate antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infection in adults: advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Mar 15;164(6):425-34.http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2481815http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26785402?tool=bestpractice.com[10]Monto AS. Occurrence of respiratory virus: time, place and person. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004 Jan;23(suppl 1):S58-64.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14730271?tool=bestpractice.com 其他已知病原体包括冠状病毒 (10%-15%)、流感病毒 (5%-15%)、副流感病毒 (5%)、呼吸道合胞病毒 (5%) 和偏肺病毒。[8]Harris AM, Hicks LA, Qaseem A. Appropriate antibiotic use for acute respiratory tract infection in adults: advice for high-value care from the American College of Physicians and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Mar 15;164(6):425-34.http://annals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2481815http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26785402?tool=bestpractice.com 但经常无法识别感染性病原体。再感染可发生于再次暴露于相同的病毒亚型之后,但病情常较轻微,持续时间较短。腺病毒和肠道病毒与普通感冒有关。咽炎通常由腺病毒所致,该病毒也可以导致下呼吸道感染。常见的呼吸道细菌(肺炎链球菌、流感嗜血杆菌、卡他莫拉菌)可能与普通感冒相关。[11]Kaiser L, Lew D, Hirschel B, et al. Effect of antibiotic treatment in a subset of common cold patients who have bacteria in nasopharyngeal secretions. Lancet. 1996 Jun 1;347(9014):1507-10.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8684101?tool=bestpractice.com 然而,抗生素对典型的普通感冒无治疗意义。