Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common colds: protect yourself and others. The common cold: potential for future prevention or cure. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. Braman SS. Postinfectious cough: ACCP evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.
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Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Related Articles. Signs and Symptoms of the Common Cold. Unlike a common cold, the effects of an influenza virus infection can come on very suddenly. The first signs of the flu are often a fever or chills, accompanied by headache, sore throat, dry cough, runny nose, muscle aches, and fatigue.
As the illness progresses, a person may have warm, flushed skin, watery or bloodshot eyes, a severe cough that produces phlegm , and nasal congestion. Nausea and vomiting may also occur, especially among children, according to the Merck Manual. A bout of the flu typically lasts for several days or occasionally weeks, with severe symptoms subsiding in two to three days. However, weakness, fatigue, dry cough, and a reduced ability to exercise can linger for six to eight weeks.
A survey conducted by the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases revealed that 41 percent of people think the flu is only contagious after symptoms start. An adult infected with influenza may be contagious from one day before symptoms start until five to seven days after becoming sick.
Children may continue to be contagious for longer than seven days, according to the CDC. Staying home until your contagious period has likely passed will help you avoid passing germs on to other people. Other simple steps can keep you from spreading infection to others or picking up a virus from other people around you at school, work, or at home.
When complications develop, a person will likely be sick for longer than a week or two, depending on the severity of the complication, how quickly a person receives treatment for it, and how well the patient responds to treatment. Signs of severe complications that should prompt you to seek medical attention include the following, according to the CDC 6 :. A study published in March in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases confirmed that immunity declines over the months following vaccination or infection.
Getting vaccinated every year is important to lower your likelihood of getting the flu. It takes about two weeks to develop immunity to the flu, and experts recommend getting vaccinated before flu season is in full swing to ensure adequate protection. Keep in mind that while seasonal colds peak in the winter and spring, it is possible to get one any time of the year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.
Nasal symptoms continue to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may notice that mucus from your runny nose has become thicker, with a yellow or green tinge. This usually is due to a spike in the number of white blood cells your immune system has dispatched to overcome the virus, according to the Mayo Clinic. As you get better over the next few days, the discharge tends to clear up.
In the meantime, however, a cough may develop in response to postnasal drip, says Dr. The average duration of a cold is 7 to 10 days, and most people recover without any specific treatment. But cold symptoms may last longer or become more severe in people who have immune problems or other underlying health issues, such as diabetes, says Soma Mandal, MD , an internist with the Summit Medical Group in New Jersey.
If you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk for complications, reach out to your healthcare provider. You can also shop online for humidifiers and hand sanitizers. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider before adding any treatment options to your current healthcare regimen to avoid any potential negative interactions.
The very best thing you can do is take actions to prevent a cold by:. Brandi Koskie is the founder of Banter Strategy , where she serves as a content strategist and health journalist for dynamic clients. Do you have a head cold? Learn more about the symptoms, treatment, and prevention. Taking sick time isn't easy, but you don't want to spread your illness or infect your co-workers if you're contagious.
But how do you determine when…. A tickle in the nose usually lasts for a few seconds, and then you sneeze. But sometimes sneezing doesn't help. Here's what to do. A healthy diet is key to flu prevention and a working immune system. Check out these easy-to-make drinks that contain the essential nutrients.
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