# A cold on one side only

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267 "2008-08-08T05:37:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267/1 "2008-08-08T05:37:26Z")

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I apparently have a cold on my left side only. Congestion on the left side, and my left eye is watery. More than one person has pointed out that this is a cold.

How can this be? If colds are caused by viruses, how is it possible that a virus can affect only one side and not the other. If it were only the congestion, I’d guess it’s a sinus infection, but how does that explain the watery eye?

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**Author:** ![groman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/73ab20/32.png) [@groman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/groman)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267/2 "2008-08-08T07:02:53Z")

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[QUOTE=panache45]  
How can this be? If colds are caused by viruses, how is it possible that a virus can affect only one side and not the other. If it were only the congestion, I’d guess it’s a sinus infection, but how does that explain the watery eye?  
[/QUOTE]

I am not a doctor, nor is this medical advice. The system is interconnected, and I would guess that the watery eye is causing congestion by draining into your nasal passage. One eye – one side congested.

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**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267/3 "2008-08-08T07:31:26Z")

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My colds usually start on one side and then migrate to the other.

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**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-cold-on-one-side-only/459267/4 "2008-08-08T11:49:12Z")

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I’d guess it’s a sinus infection as well.