A newborn can catch a cold shortly after birth when exposed to any one of the 200 viruses that are known to cause the common cold. DrGreene.com suggests that most kids have 8 to 10 colds by the time their second birthday arrives.

Chest congestion in infants is nearly always caused by a viral or bacterial infection, with the cold virus being the most common cause. Chest congestion can interfere with breathing, sleeping and eating, and over-the-counter medications are not suitable for use in infants.

A number of steroid nasal sprays are available by prescription, including fluticasone propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate monohydrate, mometasone furoate monohydrate, triamcinolone acetonide, flunisolide, budesonide and fluticasone furoate.

Croup, also called acute laryngotracheobronchitis, is a common upper airway infection in children. Croup can vary in severity from a mild cough to a severe obstruction of the airway.

Almost 1 out of every 3 people will develop shingles in their lifetime according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical symptoms from shingles are inconvenient at best and persistently painful at worst.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a lung infection caused by the mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria. This infection affects people of all ages, but it typically arises in school-aged children and people under age 40, according to MedlinePlus.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infection caused by the organism Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It is a communicable disease spread through the air by speaking, coughing or sneezing. TB may be latent (inactive) or active. Tuberculosis is treatable, but it may take up to a year to rid the body of it.

Tuberculosis, or TB, primarily affects the lungs but the causative bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can spread to other parts of the body, including the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract.

A well-maintained humidifier can ease the symptoms of asthma, allergies and the common cold. Extra humidity can also alleviate the effects of dry indoor air, such as dry nose, lips, skin and the throat, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) website.

Calcium in dairy products can bind to some antibiotics – including ciprofloxacin and quinolones – and interfere with absorption. Amoxicillin is another story.

Epstein-Barr, or EBV, is one of the most common human viruses, states the National Center for Infectious Diseases. Ninety-five percent of Americans in their late 30s will contact EBV. The majority of the time, your symptoms are nonexistent or minor and usually confused with some other mild illness.

Shingles strikes 1 million Americans each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with most cases reported among individuals older than 50.