An Overview of Common Cold Symptoms and Signs
The
common cold is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days from school and work. It is a minor infection of the nose and throat caused by one of several viruses. These viruses are highly contagious, which means they are easily spread. On average, adults get two to four colds per year, and young children get up to ten per year.
Common Symptoms of a Cold
Cold symptoms usually begin two to three days after a person becomes infected with a cold virus. The first signs often include sneezing, a scratchy throat, and/or runny nose. After one to three days, the secretions from the nose may become thicker and turn either yellow or green.
Other symptoms of a cold can include:
- Stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Sore throat
- Cough
- Headache
- Slight body aches.
These symptoms are usually mild and typically last one to two weeks. If symptoms you think are from a cold occur often or last longer than two weeks, you might have
allergies rather than a cold
(see Allergies vs Cold Symptoms).
A fever resulting from a
common cold is usually slight, but can be as high as 102 degrees Fahrenheit in infants and young children. Fever is more common in those with
the flu or other types of infections
(see Cold and Flu Symptoms to learn more about the differences).
