Yesterday you felt fine, but today your nose is runny and your throat feels scratchy. These could be the first symptoms of a cold, which typically appear in adults about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.
Most often, symptoms of a cold crest around day four, and go away on their own within 7 to 10 days, says Aaron E. Glatt, MD, the chief of infectious diseases and a hospital epidemiologist at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York.
Keep in mind that while seasonal colds peak in the winter and spring, it is possible to catch one any time of year.
Cold symptoms vary from person to person and can include:
Sore or scratchy throat
Stuffy or runny nose
Sneezing
Coughing
Headache
Aching joints
Fatigue
Be aware that a cold’s contagious period has its own life span; it usually starts one or two days before cold symptoms kick in and continues for up to two weeks. So, it’s important to prevent spreading the infection by washing your hands frequently, fully covering your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and not touching others if at all possible.
What are the stages of a cold? Typically, there are three.
“Although you can have a cold start with a number of different symptoms, the most common first symptoms are congestion, runny nose, and sore throat — signs that the virus is directly affecting your respiratory system,” says Nate Favini, MD, an internist and chief medical strategy officer of Pair Team, who is based in San Francisco.
In this first stage of a cold, it’s especially important to rest as much as possible to minimize fatigue and keep your immune system at full power.
During the next stage of a cold, nasal symptoms continue to develop, peaking during the third and fourth days. You may notice that mucus from your runny nose has thickened, with a yellow or green tinge. This is usually due to the enzymes your white blood cells produce to fight off the virus.
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. Favini.
People often assume that the discolored mucus is a sign of a bacterial infection and that they need antibiotics — but this is a common misconception. The discolored mucus is actually a normal part of the course of the common cold, which is a viral infection and will not respond to antibiotics.
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 and incoming medical director of women’s health at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City. If you have a medical condition that puts you at increased risk for complications, reach out to your healthcare provider.
Be aware that it may take up to six weeks for a cough to disappear even after other symptoms fade, Dr. Mandal says. Usually, this is due to postnasal drip, which can continue to form while swollen and irritated nasal passages heal, she explains.
Keeping a few things on hand can make weathering a cold a lot easier: cough medicine, tissues, a thermometer to check your temperature, and hot cups of tea.
If you’ve been nursing a cold but haven’t improved after a week, if cold symptoms return often, or if you had started to feel better only to have them worsen again, you may be dealing with allergies or a sinus infection rather than a cold.
Symptoms commonly associated with allergies, which can last months, include:
Itchy or watery eyes
Clear runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sneezing
Postnasal drip
Dry cough
Symptoms of a sinus infection, which can last anywhere from one to three months or more, can include:
Nasal congestion
Sore throat
Pressure or pain around the eyes and forehead
Fatigue
Fever
Tooth or jaw pain when chewing (especially of the upper jaw)
Persistent nasal discharge
If you suspect allergies or a sinus infection, Dr. Glatt recommends consulting your doctor for a complete evaluation.
It can be difficult to tell these illnesses apart because they share so many traits. What’s more, because they are caused by different germs that affect the respiratory system, it’s possible — although rare — for them to overlap. In other words, you could have more than one ailment at the same time.In general, according to experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu symptoms tend to come on suddenly rather than building gradually, as with the common cold. Flu symptoms are also more intense and last longer.Symptoms of COVID-19 also tend to develop a bit more gradually and can include ones not typically seen with a cold or the flu, such as diarrhea and a new loss of taste or smell.
As always, call your medical provider if any symptoms become severe or concerning to you. Be especially aware of the emergency warning signs for COVID-19. Someone showing any of the following signs should seek emergency medical care immediately:
Symptoms of a cold — including a sore throat, congestion, and a runny nose — typically appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus.
Cold symptoms gradually build but resolve on their own, often without treatment. If your cold is lasting longer than a week with worsening symptoms, it could actually be allergies or a sinus infection.
If your symptoms are more intense or include other changes, like diarrhea or a new loss of taste or smell, it could be a sign of the flu or COVID-19. Seek medical care for these or other severe symptoms ASAP.
Additional reporting by Andria Park Huynh.
