The common cold is a viral infection that affects your upper respiratory tract. The most common cause is a rhinovirus, and the most common symptoms are a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and a scratchy, sore throat.
The first signs of the common cold are fairly obvious: a stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, and a scratchy, sore throat. Most people quickly recognize these early symptoms because the common cold is so ordinary. In fact, adults have an average of
The common cold is actually a viral infection in your upper respiratory tract. More than 200 viruses can cause a cold. Rhinoviruses are the most common causes.
These viruses are easily spread from person to person or surface to surface. Many of them can live on surfaces for hours or even days.
While you might be familiar with the common cold, there are some things to know about this condition that can help you feel better, avoid future colds, and reduce the spread of a virus.
Read on to learn how to cope with the common cold.
Once you‘re exposed to a virus that can cause a cold, symptoms typically take 1 to 3 days to appear. The symptoms of a cold rarely appear suddenly after exposure.
Nasal symptoms include:
- sinus pressure
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
- loss of smell or taste
- sneezing
- postnasal drip (drainage in the back of your throat)
Head symptoms include:
- watery eyes
- headache
- sore throat
- swollen lymph nodes
Chest symptoms include:
- chest discomfort
- difficulty breathing deeply
- cough
Whole body symptoms include:
- fatigue (general tiredness)
- chills
- body aches
- fever below 102.2°F (39°C)
Symptoms of a cold tend to peak on day 2 or 3 and then gradually improve, and they typically clear up within 7 to 10 days.
If your symptoms worsen after a week or haven’t disappeared after about 10 days, you might have another condition, and it may be time to consult a doctor.
The common cold and the flu may seem very similar at first. They are indeed both respiratory conditions and can cause similar symptoms. But different viruses cause each condition. Your symptoms will help you distinguish between the two.
Knowing the difference between cold and flu symptoms can help you decide how to treat your condition — and whether you need to contact a doctor.
| Cold | Flu | |
|---|---|---|
| Symptom onset | gradual (1 to 3 days) | sudden |
| Symptom severity | mild to moderate | moderate to severe |
| Fever | rare | common |
| Headache | rare | common |
| Sore throat | common | occasional |
| Aches | mild | moderate to severe |
| Chills | uncommon | common |
| Cough or chest discomfort | mild to moderate | common; can be severe |
| Sneezing | common | occasional |
| Vomiting or upset stomach | rare | occasional |
| Complications | rare |
As a rule, flu symptoms are more severe than cold symptoms.
The two conditions also differ distinctly in severity. Colds rarely cause additional health conditions or problems, but the flu can lead to complications such as:
- sinus and ear infections
- pneumonia
- sepsis
Diagnosing an uncomplicated cold rarely requires a trip to a doctor’s office. Recognizing the symptoms of a cold is often all you need to figure out your diagnosis.
But if your symptoms worsen or last longer than 10 days, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with a doctor. You might be dealing with a different health condition, which your doctor will be able to diagnose.
If you have a cold, you can expect the virus to work its way out of your system within 10 days.
If your doctor diagnoses a cold, you’ll likely need to treat your symptoms only until the virus has run its course. Treatment may involve using over-the-counter (OTC) cold medications, staying hydrated, and getting plenty of rest.
If you have the flu, the virus may take the same amount of time as a cold to fully disappear. But if you notice that your symptoms are getting worse after day 5 or if you don’t start feeling better after a week, it’s a good idea to follow up with your doctor, as you may have developed another condition.
If you have the flu, you might benefit from taking an antiviral flu medication early in the cycle of the virus. Rest and hydration are also very beneficial when you have the flu. Much like the common cold, the flu just needs time to work its way through your body.
The common cold is a viral infection in your upper respiratory tract. Viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. In most cases, viruses like the cold just need to run their course. You can treat the symptoms of the infection, but you can’t treat the infection itself.
Cold treatments generally fall into two main categories: OTC medications and home remedies.
OTC medications
The most common OTC medications used for colds include:
- Decongestants: Decongestant medications help ease nasal congestion and stuffiness. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend the use of decongestants in children under 12 years old.
- Antihistamines: Antihistamines help prevent sneezing and ease runny nose symptoms. The AAP does not recommend antihistamines for children under 6 years old.
- Pain relievers: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin can help reduce body aches, inflammation, and fever symptoms.
Common cold medications sometimes include a combination of these drug types. If you’re using one, be sure to read the label and understand what you’re taking so you don’t accidentally take more than you should of any one class of drug.
The most common side effects from OTC cold medications include:
- dizziness
- dehydration
- dry mouth
- drowsiness
- nausea
- headache
If you’ve previously received a diagnosis of high blood pressure, you should consult your doctor before using any OTC cold medications.
Certain medications help relieve symptoms by narrowing your blood vessels and reducing blood flow. If you have high blood pressure, this may affect blood flow throughout your body.
Home remedies
Like OTC cold remedies, home remedies for the common cold don’t cure or treat a cold. Instead, they can help make your symptoms less severe and easier to manage.
The most effective and common home remedies for a cold include:
- Gargling with salt water: A salt water gargle can coat your throat and ease irritation.
- Drinking plenty of fluids: Staying well hydrated helps you replace fluids you’ve lost and helps relieve congestion.
- Using vapor rub: Vapor rub topical ointments help open your airways and ease congestion.
- Getting lots of rest: Getting plenty of rest helps your body save energy to let the virus run its course.
- Using zinc lozenges: Zinc lozenges may shorten the duration of cold symptoms if you take them at the very start of your symptoms.
- Taking echinacea: A 2018 research review suggests that echinacea may be effective at shortening the duration of a cold in some cases. But talk with a doctor before giving echinacea to kids under 12 years old.
The
Additionally, the FDA does not recommend the use of homeopathic remedies in children under 4 years old, since these products are not FDA approved and may cause serious side effects.
You may be able to reduce a child’s cold symptoms with these home remedies:
- Rest: Children who have a cold may be more tired and irritable than usual. If possible, let them stay home from school and rest until the cold has cleared.
- Hydration: It’s very important for a child who has a cold to get plenty of fluids. Colds can dehydrate a child quickly. Make sure they’re drinking regularly. Water is a great option. Warm drinks such as tea can pull double duty by soothing a sore throat.
- Food: Kids with a cold may not feel as hungry as usual, so look for ways to give them calories and fluids. Smoothies and soups are two good options.
- Salt water gargles: It may not be the most pleasant experience, but gargling with warm, salty water can help soothe a sore throat. Saline nasal sprays can help clear up nasal congestion.
- Warm baths: A warm bath may ease mild aches and pains that are common with a cold.
- A cool mist humidifier: A cool mist humidifier can
help decrease nasal congestion. Do not use a warm mist humidifier because it can cause swelling in the nasal passages, making breathing more difficult. - A bulb syringe: Nasal suctioning with a bulb syringe works well to clear babies’ nasal passages. Older children typically resist bulb syringes.
Symptoms of a cold typically clear up within 10 days, but they can last
If your symptoms don’t decrease or disappear within 7 to 10 days, make an appointment with a doctor. If your symptoms begin worsening after 5 days, it’s also important to contact a doctor.
Symptoms that get worse or don’t go away could be a sign of another health condition, such as the flu or strep throat.
When you’re sick, you might not feel like eating at all, but your body still needs the energy that food provides. The following foods may be extra helpful for your cold recovery:
Chicken noodle soup
The salty soup is a classic “treatment” for all kinds of health conditions. It’s especially great for colds. Warm liquids can help open up your sinuses so you can breathe more easily, and the salt from the soup can ease irritated throat tissue.
Hot tea
Warm drinks like tea are great for colds. You can add honey for a cough-busting boost. Slices of ginger may help reduce inflammation. And inhaling the steam from hot tea might help ease congestion.
Try to stay away from coffee, though. Caffeine can interfere with medications and may increase your risk of dehydration.
Yogurt
Yogurt contains billions of healthy bacteria that can boost your gut health. Having a healthy gut microbiome may help your body fight a variety of conditions, including a cold.
Ice pops
Like hot tea, ice pops may help numb and ease the pain of a sore throat. Look for low sugar varieties or make your own “smoothie” pop with yogurt, fruit, and natural juices.
The most important thing to remember when you have a cold is to stay hydrated. Drink water or warm tea regularly. And avoid caffeine and alcohol while you’re recovering from a cold — both can make your cold symptoms worse.
The following factors may increase your risk of catching a cold:
- Cooler seasons: Colds can happen any time of year, but they’re more common in the fall and winter and during rainy seasons. We spend more time inside when it’s cold and wet, which increases the chances that viruses will spread.
- Younger age: Children under 6 years old are more likely to develop colds. Their risk is even higher if they spend time in a child care setting with other kids.
- Crowded environments: In places where you’re around a lot of people, such as on a plane or at a concert, you’re more likely to encounter rhinoviruses.
- Weakened immune system: If you have a chronic health condition or have been sick recently, you may be more likely to contract a cold virus.
- Smoking: People who smoke have an increased risk of catching a cold, and their colds tend to be more severe.
- Lack of sleep: Irregular or inadequate sleep can affect your immune system, which may make you more susceptible to cold viruses.
A cold is usually a minor condition, but it can be inconvenient and can certainly make you feel miserable.
You can’t get a vaccine to prevent colds like you can for the flu. But you can take a few key steps during cold season to reduce your chances of picking up a cold virus.
Tips for cold prevention
- Wash your hands: Washing your hands with soap and water is the best way to stop the spread of germs. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer gels and sprays as a last resort when you can’t get to a sink.
- Avoid close contact with those who are sick: Germs can spread easily in offices and classrooms, which is why people should try to stay home from work or school when sick. If you notice that someone isn’t feeling well, try not to get too close to them. And be sure to wash your hands if you do.
- Take care of your gut: Eat plenty of bacteria-rich foods, such as yogurt, or take a daily probiotic supplement. Keeping your gut bacteria healthy can help boost your overall health.
- Avoid touching your face: Cold viruses can live on your body without making you sick. But if you touch your mouth, nose, or eyes while the virus is present on your hands, you’ll likely get sick. Avoid touching your face or wash your hands before doing so.
When someone contracts a cold-causing virus, it can spread to others through the air, on surfaces, and through close physical contact. People who are carrying the virus can also leave it behind on shared surfaces such as doorknobs and computers.
If you have a cold, it’s important to be a good neighbor, family member, or friend and take steps to protect those around you when possible.
Tips for protecting others
- Wash your hands: Washing your hands protects you, but it also protects others. When you wash your hands, you reduce the risk of spreading the virus elsewhere in your home, school, or workplace.
- Stay at home: If you or your child is sick, stay home if possible. You need the rest, and staying home can help reduce the spread of the virus.
- Avoid close contact: While it may be tempting to show love to another person, it’s best for their health that you avoid hugging, kissing, or shaking hands while you’re sick. If you must greet someone, try an elbow bump.
- Cough into your elbow: If you feel a sneeze or cough coming on, grab a tissue to cover it. If you don’t have one, sneeze or cough into your elbow, not your hands. If you accidentally use your hands, wash them immediately.
- Disinfect regularly: If you or someone else in your home is sick, pick up a container of disinfecting wipes and frequently clean all high-touch surfaces, such as doorknobs, kitchen counters, appliances, and remotes.
Most cold viruses will work their way through your body in 7 to 10 days. Symptoms are usually at their worst 2 to 3 days after you first notice them. As uncomfortable as a cold may be, OTC medications and home remedies are typically the best way to deal with an uncomplicated cold.
However, in some cases, you might need to contact a doctor about your cold symptoms. Consider getting medical attention in the following situations:
- Severe or worsening symptoms: If your symptoms (such as a cough or headaches) seem more severe than they usually are when you have a cold, it’s time to see a doctor.
- Persistent symptoms: If cold symptoms last more than 10 days, make an appointment with a doctor.
- Difficulty breathing: If you have shortness of breath or find it hard to breathe, get care right away.
- A high or persistent fever: Contact a doctor if you or your child has a fever of 101°F (38°C) or higher or any fever that lasts longer than
4 days . - Symptoms in a child under 3 months old: If an infant is showing signs of a cold, such as lethargy or a fever of any kind, consult a doctor immediately.
- Persistent symptoms in anyone with high risk: If you’re in a high risk group and have a persistent cold, you should see a doctor. If your cold turns out to be a more serious condition, you could be at risk of complications. High risk groups include:
- children under 5 years old
- adults 65 years old and older
- pregnant people
- people with medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease
The common cold is precisely that — common. In fact, adults experience an average of two to three colds per year. That means most people know they have a cold as soon as the symptoms start.
Colds can be quite uncomfortable. Symptoms such as a runny or stuffy nose, headache, cough, and loss of smell or taste can make for a miserable few days. But after 7 to 10 days, most people will start to feel better.
There are no cures or treatments that will end a cold. The cold is a virus that has to run its course until it’s gone. But you can treat the symptoms of a common cold. OTC medications can ease congestion or sneezing. Home remedies such as salt water gargles can ease a sore throat. And rest and hydration can help your body recover from a cold.
Sometimes symptoms that seem like a cold might actually be caused by another upper respiratory infection, such as the flu. If your symptoms seem more severe than usual or don’t ease after a week, make an appointment with a doctor.