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Colds are very common. An office visit from your health care provider is often not necessary, and colds often improve after 3 to 4 days.
A type of microorganism called a virus causes most colds. There are many types of viruses that can cause a cold. Depending on the virus you have, your symptoms may vary.
Common symptoms of a cold include:
- Fever (100°F [37.7ºC] or higher) and chills
- Headache, muscle aches and fatigue
- Cough
- Nasal symptoms, such as nasal congestion, runny nose, yellow or green mucus, and sneezing
- Sore throat
Mild symptoms of COVID-19 can be similar to those of the common cold. Always check with your health care provider if you are at risk of contracting COVID-19.
Treating your cold
Treating the symptoms will not make the cold go away, but it will help you feel better. Antibiotics are almost never needed to treat a common cold.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) help reduce fever and relieve muscle aches.
- Do not use acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin).
- Check the label for the proper dosage.
- Call your provider if you need to take these medicines more than 4 times a day or for more than 2 or 3 days.
- Over-the-counter cold and cough medicines can help relieve symptoms in adults and older children.
They are not recommended for children under 6 years of age. Talk to your provider before giving your child over-the-counter cold and cough medicines that may have serious side effects.
Coughing is the body’s way of clearing mucus from the lungs. So only use cough syrups when your cough becomes very painful.
Lozenges or sprays for sore throats.
Many cough and cold medicines that you buy contain more than one medicine. Read labels carefully to make sure you are not taking too much of any medicine. If you take prescription drugs for another health problem, ask your provider which over-the-counter cold medicines are safe for you.
- Drink plenty of fluids, get plenty of sleep, and stay away from secondhand smoking.
- Wheezing can be a symptom of a cold if you have asthma.
- Use a rescue inhaler as prescribed if you are wheezing.
See your provider right away if you have trouble breathing
