Overview
The common cold is an infection of the upper respiratory tract: the nose, sinuses, and throat. More than 200 different viruses can cause it, which is why people catch colds again and again. Adults get an average of 2 to 3 colds a year, and young children get even more.
A cold is usually mild. It can feel a lot like the flu, COVID-19, or allergies, but it tends to come on slowly and rarely causes a high fever. It can sometimes lead to an ear or sinus infection, or make asthma worse.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start 1 to 3 days after you're exposed to the virus and peak within 2 to 3 days.
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore or scratchy throat
- Sneezing
- Cough
- Mild tiredness
Less common
- Low fever, more often in children
- Mild headache or body aches
- Watery eyes
- Reduced sense of taste or smell
How it usually goes
- Days 1–3: Symptoms build and usually peak: sore throat, runny nose, sneezing. You're most contagious now.
- Days 4–7: Symptoms start to ease. Mucus may turn white, yellow, or green. That's normal and doesn't mean you need antibiotics.
- Days 8–14: Most symptoms are gone. A runny nose or cough can linger for up to 10 to 14 days.
When to get medical care
Causes
Rhinoviruses cause most colds. Other causes include common human coronaviruses (not the one that causes COVID-19), parainfluenza viruses, adenoviruses, enteroviruses, and human metapneumovirus. The flu, COVID-19, and RSV can cause cold-like symptoms, but they're different illnesses and are more likely to be serious.
The viruses spread through droplets when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks, and through hands: touching a surface with the virus, then your eyes, nose, or mouth. You can spread a cold starting a day or two before symptoms begin.
Does it spread or run in families?
- Yes, it can spread from person to person.
- How it spreads: coughs, sneezes, touching surfaces, or touch.
- Washing hands often and staying home when sick help protect others.
Who is more likely to get it
- Young children, who get more colds than adults
- Close contact with others, like in daycare, school, or crowded places
- People with a weakened immune system, or asthma or other long-term lung conditions, who may have worse symptoms
- People who smoke, who may also have worse symptoms
Possible complications
- Ear infection: Ear pain or fever, most often in children
- Sinus infection: Face pain and congestion past 10 days
- Asthma flare: Wheezing or trouble breathing
- Pneumonia: Rare; high fever and a worsening cough
Diagnosis
Most colds don't need a visit or a test. If you do see a healthcare professional, they'll usually know it's a cold from your symptoms and a short exam. A big part of the visit is ruling out illnesses that look similar but are treated differently, like the flu, COVID-19, strep throat, or a sinus infection.
Questions you may be asked
- When your symptoms started, and whether they're getting better or worse
- Whether you've had a fever, and how high
- If anyone around you has been sick, or if you've traveled recently
- Whether you have asthma, a lung or heart condition, or a weakened immune system
- Which medicines you've already tried, including over-the-counter ones
The exam
They'll typically look in your nose, throat, and ears, feel the glands in your neck, listen to your lungs, and check your temperature. If you're short of breath, they may check your oxygen level with a small clip on your finger.
Tests
There's no routine test for a cold. Your healthcare professional may order a test when your symptoms suggest something else:
- Flu or COVID-19 test: A nose swab, if you have fever, body aches, or a known exposure. Some results are ready in minutes.
- Strep test: A throat swab, if a sore throat comes with fever and no cough.
- Chest X-ray: Rarely, if pneumonia is a concern because of high fever, trouble breathing, or a worsening cough.
Treatment
There's no cure for the common cold, and it goes away on its own. Treatment helps you feel better while your body fights the virus. Antibiotics don't work on cold viruses, and taking them when they aren't needed can cause side effects and make future infections harder to treat. There are no antiviral medicines for colds.
Self-care
- Rest and stay home from work or school while you feel sick
- Drink fluids like water, broth, and warm tea to stay hydrated and loosen mucus
- Saline nasal spray or rinse to clear a stuffy nose
- A cool-mist humidifier to ease congestion and cough
- Warm salt-water gargles throat lozenges, or ice chips for a sore throat (no lozenges for children under 4)
- Honey in a warm drink to calm a cough, for anyone over 1 year old
Medicines
Over-the-counter medicines can ease symptoms but don't shorten a cold. Read the label, check the active ingredients so you don't take the same one twice, and ask a pharmacist if you take other medicines or have a health condition.
| Medicine | Helps with | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pain and fever relievers Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen | Sore throat, aches, and fever | Don't go over the daily limit on the label, and watch for acetaminophen in combination cold medicines. Babies: nothing under 3 months unless a healthcare professional says to; acetaminophen only from 3 to 6 months. |
| Decongestants Pseudoephedrine, Oxymetazoline nasal spray | Stuffy nose and sinus pressure | Pills can raise blood pressure and make it hard to sleep. Don't use decongestant nasal sprays more than 3 days in a row, or in children under 6 unless a doctor says to. |
| Cough suppressants Dextromethorphan | A dry cough that keeps you awake | Don't take more than the label says. Ask a pharmacist first if you take an antidepressant. |
| Antihistamines Diphenhydramine, Chlorpheniramine | Runny nose and sneezing | They can cause drowsiness, so don't drive after taking them. Usually not recommended for adults 65 and older. |
| Saline spray or rinse | Stuffy nose and thick mucus | Safe at any age. Use distilled, sterile, or boiled and cooled water for rinses. |
Medicine names link to drug information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (MedlinePlus). OwieClear doesn't give doses: follow the label or your healthcare professional.
If a cold leads to a bacterial infection, like some ear or sinus infections, your healthcare professional may prescribe an antibiotic for that infection. People with asthma may need to adjust their asthma medicines during a cold.
How it compares
Prevention
There's no vaccine for the common cold. These steps lower your risk and protect others:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
- Stay home when you're sick, and cough or sneeze into your elbow
- Clean surfaces people touch often, like doorknobs and phones
Which doctor treats this
- Start with your primary care provider (family doctor or internist).
Back to school, work, or sports
- Stay home until you've had no fever for 24 hours without fever medicine and you're feeling better.
- For the next 5 days, wash hands often and wear a mask around others.
Children, pregnancy, and older adults
- Babies and children: Call a healthcare professional right away if a baby under 3 months has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. Children get more colds than adults. Over-the-counter cough and cold medicines aren't recommended under age 6.
- Pregnancy: Many cold medicines aren't recommended during pregnancy. Ask your healthcare professional or pharmacist before taking any.
- Older adults and people with lung or heart conditions: A cold is more likely to lead to complications. Get care sooner if breathing gets harder.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- If you're pregnant or planning to be, tell your prenatal provider about this condition.
- Some infections can pass to the baby during pregnancy or birth. Tell your provider if you've been exposed.
- Don't start or stop any medicine on your own. Some are safe in pregnancy and some need to be changed.
- Ask before taking any pain reliever. The FDA advises avoiding ibuprofen and naproxen after 20 weeks unless your doctor says to.
- Breastfeeding: Most medicines are fine, but ask. The NIH LactMed database lists what's known about each one.
Outlook
Almost everyone recovers fully in 7 to 10 days. A lingering cough is common and usually isn't a sign of a problem unless it comes with fever, trouble breathing, or gets worse.
Myths and facts
Myth: Going outside with wet hair gives you a cold.
Fact: Colds are caused by viruses, not by cold air or wet hair.
Myth: Antibiotics help a cold.
Fact: Antibiotics don't work on viruses and can cause side effects.
Getting ready for your visit
If you need to see a healthcare professional, a little preparation helps you get the most from a short visit.
What to bring
- Your symptoms, when each one started, and your highest temperature
- All medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements
- Any long-term conditions, like asthma or diabetes
Questions to ask
- Could this be the flu, COVID-19, or strep throat? Do I need a test?
- Which over-the-counter medicines are safe with my other medicines?
- When should I come back if I don't feel better?
Research studies
Research studies test new ways to find and treat health problems. Some are looking for volunteers. Talk with your doctor before joining one.
Sources
Last updated 2026-11-12.