Common Cold - Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Colds are common: Most adults get a cold at least twice a year while children can get them multiple times in a year. The common cold is an upper respiratory viral infection caused by different viruses. Symptoms include a nasal congestion, cough, sore throat, runny nose, and fever—the common cold can leave you feeling miserable.

When do people catch colds and how long do they last?

Most people tend to get a cold during the winter months, but it can happen at any time during the year. A cold usually lasts up to 7 to 10 days. Although colds and flus may seem similar, they’re not the same. A flu usually causes more severe symptoms.^viii

While there are no cures available for the common cold, these conditions are generally self-limiting and medicines containing paracetamol and bed rest can help speed up your recovery.

Is it a cold? The top three symptoms

After your exposure to a cold virus, symptoms usually come on within three to four days. A scratchy throat is often among the first signs that you’re coming down with something. Later, you could develop a cough and a runny nose. If you’re feeling run down or achy, it’s likely that you’re getting a cold.

Signs tend to vary from person to person, but cold symptoms tend to include:

1. A sore throat and/or cough

2. A runny and a stuffy nose

3. Body aches and a general sense of feeling unwell^iv

What are the signs of the common cold?

Colds can make you feel tired and like you’re running out of steam. But with more than 200 different viruses that can cause cold, its symptoms tend to vary from one person to the next. Usually, a cold affects your whole bodyⁱ.

The symptoms of a common cold include:

A runny, blocked nose and congestion: A congested nose and thick nasal discharge are some of the tell-tale signs of the cold. A blocked nose feels uncomfortable and like you can’t breathe properly^viii. The mucus build-up could also lead to postnasal drip. In that case, you will notice the mucus travelling down from your nose to your throat. Because of congestion, your taste and smell may be different or be temporarily lost.

Sneezing: When the mucous membranes in the nose and throat are being irritated, it can trigger sneezingⁱⁱ. Because sneezing spreads cold viruses, you should cover your nose with a tissue when you’re sneezing.

Scratchy, itchy, sore throat^viii: When the tissues that line the back of your throat are inflamed, it can become painful. A sore throat usually feels dry or itchy and as if something is stuck at the back of it. Some people may also find that it hurts when they swallow foods. Your voice could sound hoarse or raspy.

Cough: Coughing usually starts as a tickle at the back of the throat^viii. This is caused by an irritation or inflammation of the cells in your airways.

Coughs can be wet or dry. The difference is that a wet cough brings up some of the mucus from your respiratory system. Wet coughs feel like something is stuck in your throat and you will usually be able to feel that there’s mucus. As the name suggests, the dry cough is not accompanied by mucus build-up. It feels like a tickle or as if something is scratching against the back of your throat.

Coughs can linger and are sometimes the last symptoms of the common cold to go awayⁱⁱⁱ.

Body aches and headaches: In addition to the above, most people will also feel body aches, neck pain, or mild headaches when they have a cold. You may notice a general feeling of being unwell or run down. Often people will feel more tired and fatigued as their immune system tries to fight the virus.

Body chills and fever: A temperature above 100.4° F is rare in adults—but common among children—with colds^iv. Signs of a fever include sweating, chills and shivering, and dehydration. If you notice a higher than average temperature in your infant or child, you should consult a doctor.

What’s the difference between a cold and the flu?

We’ve all had a cold before, but sometimes it can be difficult to figure out whether your illness is a cold or the flu. So how do you know? Flu symptoms tend to be more severe and come on much quicker than those of a cold. One of the key difference between cold and flu is a fever, but there are a few other signs to look out for^viii:

Symptom	Common cold	Flu
Fever	Sometime	Very common
Headaches	Sometimes	Common
Body aches	Sometimes	Common
Fatigue	Common	Very common
Stuffy and runny nose	Very common	Sometimes
Sore throat	Very common	Sometimes
Cough	Common	Common

What exactly is a cold?

The common cold is a seasonal infection of the respiratory tract. It is caused by viruses called rhinovirus and spread from person to person via skin contact or in the air—for example, when an infected person sneezes.

Symptoms tend to come on within three to four days after exposure and last around up to 7 to 10 days.

Five risk factors for catching a cold:

Season: Colds are much more common during the colder months of the year like winter and fall.

Immune system: If you suffer from a chronic illness or have a compromised immune system, you may suffer from colds more frequently than healthy people.

Age: Children under the age of six years get colds more often than adults or older kids.

Contact with other people: When you work in a busy environment, you tend to come in contact with other people more frequently. This means that the virus spreads more quickly.

Stress: When you’re stressed, your immune system functions are suppressed and this can make you more susceptible to the common^vi cold.

How can I treat a cold quickly?

Colds can be debilitating. They’re one of the main reasons why adults miss work and children have to stay home from school^v.

It’s only normal that you may be looking for cold remedies that provide quick relief. But there is no cure for the common cold or flu.

In general, a cold requires bed rest and time for the cold to run its course and the body to heal. Available cold medicine and other treatment options focus on relieving symptoms.

What cold medicines can I take?

Pain and fever relievers: If you’ve got a fever, sore throat or headache, over the counter medication may help.

Nose sprays: Decogenstant nasal sprays are helpful to relieve symptoms of a runny or congested nose. But they shouldn’t be used for more than 7 days^vii.

Cough syrup: It can be difficult to get rest when a cough keeps you awake. Cough syrups help to suppress a cough and allow you to get much needed sleep.

Children

Consult your doctor before giving medicines to children younger than four years.

You should not use antibiotics to treat a cold unless its a bacterial infection. Speak to your doctor if you’re in doubt.

What home remedies help?

Sleep: It’s important that you rest when your body is trying to fight a cold. If you can, stay home and get plenty of sleep.

Drink lots of fluids: Make sure you get plenty of water. To sooth a sore throat, you can try some hot lemon with honey or herbal teas. Soup is a good choice for food because it rehydrates and soothes a sore throat.

Vitamins: Although there is no proof that vitamin C or zinc help treat a common cold, they can be beneficial for general health and boost your immune system in the long run^ix.

When should I call a doctor?

Speak to a doctor or medical advisor if you have any of the following as these could be signs of other infections^x:

A fever that doesn’t go away: If your fever lasts more than three days, it could point to a bacterial infection that may need alternative treatment including antibiotics etc^x.

A cough that lingers: When a cough continues for more than two to three weeks or is particularly bad, it’s best to speak to a medical advisor as it could be a sign of bronchitis^xii.

A painful throat: Although a sore throat is common when you have a cold or flu, severe pain is also a symptom of strep throat^x.

Face pain, congestion and yellow or green nasal discharge: If you notice any pain around your nose, the forehead or in the cheekbones, you may have sinusitis. Congestion and yellow or green mucus can be signs of inflamed sinuses. Because sinusitis is sometimes caused by bacteria, it will require a different treatment^xi.

References

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8. COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences? Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/covid-19-cold-flu-and-allergies-differences/art-20503981
9. Maggini S, Beveridge S, Suter M. A Combination of High-Dose Vitamin C plus Zinc for the Common Cold. Journal of International Medical Research. 2012;40(1):28-42. doi:10.1177/147323001204000104, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22429343/ Accessed December 9, 2020.
10. Common cold - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Published 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605 Accessed December 9, 2020.
11. Do I Have Sinusitis? WebMD. Accessed December 9, 2020. https://www.webmd.com/allergies/sinusitus-test