What Is a Cold?
Show Common Cold SymptomsBetween one and three days after a cold virus enters the body, symptoms start developing, such as:
Is it a Cold or the Flu?Symptoms of the flu are similar to the common cold, but they last longer and tend to be worse. Learn more about flu Infants and young children are more likely than adults and teens to develop a fever. Smokers usually have more severe symptoms than non-smokers. What Can Be Done If You Catch a Cold?Symptom ReliefOver-the-counter medications can provide temporary relief of symptoms and should be used as soon as you feel a cold coming on. Studies have shown that acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve aches and pains may worsen asthma and/or peptic ulcers. People with asthma should not take these medications unless recommended by their healthcare provider. Pregnant women should check with their healthcare provider for all medication. Aspirin should not be given to children under 18 years old because it may play a role in causing Reye's Syndrome, a rare but severe liver and central nervous system condition. Be sure to discuss all medication choices with a healthcare provider. Congestion, cough and nasal discharge may be treated with a decongestant, antihistamine or a combination of the two. Some people such as those with thyroid disease or high blood pressure should not take decongestants—check with your healthcare provider to determine what is best. Many over-the-counter cold remedies contain both of these ingredients. REMEMBER to follow dosage instructions on all product labels and know what is in the medication you are taking. Many combination products—both prescription and over-the-counter—contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. It is important to read the ingredients on each product label to avoid accidentally taking too much of these. There are no antiviral medications available for treating the common cold. Antibiotics are not useful for treating a cold, and should only be taken to treat bacterial complications that arise from it. If you are concerned you have a bacterial complication, discuss it with your healthcare provider. Other Remedies
What Can You Do to Prevent a Cold?Colds are extremely difficult to prevent entirely. The following suggestions may help:
Do not inflict your cold on others! Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, then throw the tissue away and wash hands. Also, stay away from people who are most vulnerable, including anyone who has asthma or another chronic lung disease, or at least try to limit close contact. Until recently, it was thought that a single vaccine could not be developed for the different cold viruses. New research approaches may enable the development of a single vaccine for most types of colds. Complications of a ColdColds get better within a few days to weeks, whether or not a person takes medication. However, a cold virus can pave the way for other infections to invade the body, including sinus or ear infections and acute bronchitis. A common complication is a sinus infection with a prolonged cough. If you have asthma, chronic bronchitis, or emphysema, the symptoms from those conditions may be worsened for many weeks even after the cold has gone away. Post-infectious cough, usually without phlegm, may last for weeks to months after the cold goes away and may keep a person up at night. This cough has been associated with asthma-like symptoms, and can be treated with asthma medications. Consult a healthcare provider if you have this kind of cough. Talk to a healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
Learn more about how to keep your lungs healthy » Reviewed and approved by the American Lung Association Scientific and Medical Editorial Review Panel. Page last updated: September 21, 2022 Is the common cold caused by a virus?Influenza (flu) and the common cold are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. Flu is caused by influenza viruses only, whereas the common cold can be caused by a number of different viruses, including rhinoviruses, parainfluenza, and seasonal coronaviruses.
Is the common cold a virus or bacteria?Bacterial infections were rare, supporting the concept that the common cold is almost exclusively a viral disease.
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