A cold is a virus, right? I don't get it, help?

A typical 'cold' is caused by any one of the influenza viruses - so yes it is a viral, not a bacterial infection. The reason it is associated with coldness is two-fold.

Firstly when one has a fever the body's temperature setpoint changes and one can literally feel cold. Secondly if one is exposed to cold weather for example and one has increased nasal secretions these can become secondarily infected - hence a cold.

Having said that the entity of a 'cold' is not entirely viral since after the virus infects you it causes a build up of secretions and weakens the throat and nose skin tissue which can result in a secondary bacterial infection.

The "Common Cold" is a virus. But not all colds are of that type. Some colds are due to inflammation caused by contact with cold liquids. For example getting cold rain up the nostrils can cause a head cold. Or staying outside in the cold rain until your bones feel cold will give you a chill.

You catching a cold has absolutely nothing to do with eating ice cream.

"but I haven't been in touch with anyone with a cold"

How do you know that? Have you been to a store lately? To school? Outside? It could have come from anyone.

well the ice cream doesn't have the cold virus in it, but the sugar in the ice cream will weaken your immune system and make you more vulnerable to catching the virus. So try and stay away from sugars and take Vitamin A and D daily! :)

Mostly a cold is bacteria. Sometimes the ice cream is too cold, and when your body gets too cold you will catch a cold ... a virus is more like alot of fever, headache, coughs ... like swine influenza. A virus is like a parasite that goes into your body and does something with your DNA so you will feel wrong.

So mostly catching a cold is bacteria ... i think so ..

a cold is a virus which can spread through germs. So you dont only have to eat ice cream to get it. You catch it off someone elses germs.

You could have been in contact with surfaces that people with colds had touched. Someone that is not yet showing symptoms of a cold, but has the virus, could have been in contact with you.

If you go to school, there are thousands of kids touching thousands of surfaces. You have been in contact with more people than you know.