TheCable

You may not need to avoid kissing your partner who has cold because recent studies have shown that you cannot catch cold by kissing a partner who has it.

According to a study carried out by Ron Eccles, a professor and director of the common Cold Centre at the Cardiff University, which was published by Daily Mail, cold spreads through mucus and not saliva.

“The common cold virus travels in mucus from the respiratory system,” Eccles said.

“Unless you have a bad cough, and some of the respiratory system has made its way into the saliva, the cold virus will not be transmitted by kissing.”

Prior to this study, a survey showed that 57 percent would reject a first kiss with someone suffering from a case of cold, while 85 percent would prefer to hold hands with someone with the same condition.

The research found that a potential partner turning up on a date with a common cold is a major turn off.

Though people prefer to hold hands with an ailing partner rather than share a kiss, the study gave a shocker by revealing that holding hands could even make one catch a cold.

“Your finger can easily become contaminated with viruses by holding hands with someone who has coughed or sneezed in their hands, or by touching door handles in public place,” Eccles said.

“The research demonstrates peoples lack of understanding surrounding the common cold. Many do not understand how cold and flu viruses are transferred, putting themselves at greater risk of catching a cold.”

Symptoms of cold include coughing, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing and fever, which last for about seven to ten days, with no known cure.