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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Symptoms of a common cold usually appear about one to three days after exposure to a cold virus. Signs and symptoms of a common cold may include:

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Itchy or sore throat
  • Cough
  • Congestion
  • Slight body aches or a mild headache
  • Sneezing
  • Watery eyes
  • Low-grade fever (up to 102 F, or 39 C)
  • Mild fatigue

The discharge from your nose may become thicker and yellow or green in color as a common cold runs its course. What makes a cold different from other viral infections is that you generally won't have a high fever. You're also unlikely to experience significant fatigue from a common cold.

When to see a doctor
For adults — Seek medical attention if you have:

  • Fever of 102 F (39 C) or higher
  • High fever accompanied by achiness and fatigue
  • Fever accompanied by sweating, chills and a cough with colored phlegm
  • Significantly swollen glands
  • Severe sinus pain

For children — In general, children are sicker with a common cold than adults are and often develop complications, such as ear infections. Your child doesn't need to see the doctor for a routine common cold. But seek medical attention right away if your child has any of the following signs or symptoms:

  • Fever of 103 F (39.5 C) or higher, chills or sweating
  • Fever that lasts more than three days
  • Vomiting or abdominal pain
  • Unusual sleepiness
  • Severe headache
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Persistent crying
  • Ear pain
  • Persistent cough
Causes Definition
References
  1. Gwaltney JM. The common cold. In: Mandell GL, et al. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/107482514-6/0/1259/1.html?tocnode=51375605&fromURL=1.html. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
  2. Health matters: The common cold. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/cold.htm. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
  3. Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of influenza and the common cold. American Lung Association. http://www.lungusa.org. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
  4. Common cold. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/commonCold/. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
  5. Many OTC medications not recommended for cough treatment. American College of Chest Physicians. http://www.chestnet.org. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
  6. Mabry RL, et al. Allergic rhinitis. In: Cummings CW, et al. Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/108305975-4/763572162/1263/394.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-01985-4..50045-9--cesec13_1707. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
  7. New cough guidelines urge adult whooping cough vaccine. American College of Chest Physicians. http://www.chestnet.org/. Accessed Oct. 15, 2008.
  8. Infant deaths associated with cough and cold medications - United States, 2005. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/media/mmwrnews/2007/n070111.htm. Accessed Oct. 23, 2008.   
  9. Hopkins AB. Chicken soup cure may not be a myth. The Nurse Practitioner. 2003;28(6):16.
  10. Zinc. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 8, 2008.
  11. Reynolds SA, et al., Hand sanitizer alert. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol12no03/05-0955.htm. Accessed Oct. 3, 2008.
  12. Aminoff MJ, et al. Disorders of cognitive function - Reye syndrome. In: Aminoff MJ, et al. Clinical Neurology. 6th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2005. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2079232&searchStr=reye+syndrome. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
  13. Echinacea. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
  14. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.
  15. Transcript of FDA press conference on cough and cold medicine. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/transcripts/2008/coughcold_transcript011708.pdf. Accessed Oct. 10, 2008.
  16. FDA statement following CHPA's announcement on nonprescription over-the-counter cough and cold medicines in children. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2008/NEW01899.html. Accessed Oct. 9, 2008.

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Oct. 29, 2008

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