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Susceptibility to colds is not affected by exposure to cold temperature, host health and nutrition, or upper respiratory tract abnormalities eg, enlarged tonsils or adenoids.
After an incubation period of 24 to 72 h, cold symptoms begin with a scratchy or sore throat, followed by sneezing, rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, and malaise. Temperature is usually normal, particularly when the pathogen is a rhinovirus or coronavirus.
Nasal secretions are watery and profuse during the first days but then become more mucoid and purulent. Mucopurulent secretions do not indicate a bacterial superinfection. Cough is usually mild but often lasts into the 2nd wk. Most symptoms due to uncomplicated colds resolve within 10 days.
Colds may exacerbate asthma and chronic bronchitis. Purulent sputum or significant lower respiratory tract symptoms are unusual with rhinovirus infection. Purulent sinusitis and otitis media may result from the viral infection itself or from secondary bacterial infection. Diagnosis of the common cold is generally made clinically and presumptively, without diagnostic tests, although PCR testing is available in many multiplex platforms. Allergic rhinitis is the most important consideration in differential diagnosis.
Nasal decongestants may reduce nasal obstruction. American Academy of Pediatrics. Get set for winter illness season. Food and Drug Administration. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. Related Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold? Can it prevent colds? Can I make my own? Avoid rebound nasal congestion Have a cold?
Fight it with fluids Can chicken soup cure a cold? What is the remedy? Humidifiers Does zinc work for colds? Is it effective for the common cold? Try saline spray Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm? Fight back with humidity Have a cold?
Common sense rules How well do you wash your hands? An effective nasal decongestant?
Mucopurulent secretions do not indicate a bacterial superinfection. Cold remedies Neti pot: Symptoms Ease Most people recover from the common cold without any specific treatment within a week, but cold symptoms may linger or become more severe in some people. Protect yourself and others. On day one of symptoms, you're likely to experience a little tickle in the back of your throat and find yourself reaching for tissues more often than usual. Antihistamines may provide relief from cough, sneezing, watery eyes, and a runny nose. Avoid rebound nasal congestion Have a cold?
Cold remedies Neti pot: Can it clear your nose? Is antibacterial soap a do or a don't? An effective cough remedy? During the first day or two, you may start to feel as if you have an itch or something stuck in your throat. Then you may begin to sneeze more than normal. As the days pass, your cold symptoms will progress.
Days 3 to 5: Nasal Symptoms and Cough Nasal symptoms, including both a runny nose and congestion, are often the next common cold symptoms to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may experience a runny nose with a discharge that becomes thicker, yellow, or green during the progression of your common cold. A cough may develop because of postnasal drip or a sore throat, and that cough may linger after congestion and other cold symptoms fade.
Days 6 and 7: Symptoms Ease Most people recover from the common cold without any specific treatment within a week, but cold symptoms may linger or become more severe in some people. Seek medical attention if you have severe, worsening, persistent, or unusual symptoms. If you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk for complications, consult a healthcare provider.
Could It Be Something Else? Symptoms commonly associated with allergies include itchy eyes, clear runny nose, and nasal congestion, and they can last for weeks. Symptoms of a sinus infection include nasal congestion, sore throat, pressure or pain around the eyes and forehead, fatigue, and fever, all of which can last anywhere from one to three months or more.