Cold - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms?

One to three days after catching a cold virus, symptoms begin suddenly. They
start with a burning feeling in the nose or throat. Next comes sneezing, a runny
nose, and the feeling of being tired and unwell.

For the first few days, your nose
teems with watery nasal secretions. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark
mucus does not necessarily mean that you have developed a bacterial
infection.

You may get a mild cough. It won't get much worse, but it is likely to last
into the second week of your illness. If you suffer from chronic bronchitis, a
cold will make it worse. If you are coughing up dark material -- or if you are
feeling a lot of distress low down in your lungs -- you may have a bacterial
infection. These symptoms can also be caused by a cold virus other than a
rhinovirus.

Usually there is no fever -- in fact, fever and more severe symptoms may
indicate that you have the flu and not a cold.

Cold symptoms settle in between one and four days after you are infected by a
cold virus and typically last for about three days. At that point the worst is
over, but you may feel congested for a week or more. During the first three days
that you have symptoms, you are contagious. This means you can pass the cold to
others, so stay home and get some rest.

Except in newborns, colds themselves are not dangerous. They usually go away
in four to 10 days without any special medicine. Unfortunately, colds do wear
down your body's resistance, making you more susceptible to bacterial
infections.

If your cold is nasty enough, seek medical attention. Your doctor likely will
examine your throat and ears. He or she may take a throat culture by brushing
your throat with a long cotton-tipped swab. This will show whether you have a
bacterial infection, which requires treatment with antibiotics.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You notice an inability to swallow.
  
• You have a sore throat for more than two or three days, particularly if it
  seems to be worsening.
  
• You have an earache.
  
• You have a stiff neck or sensitivity to bright lights.
  
• Your are pregnant or nursing.
  
• Your newborn or infant has cold symptoms.
  
• Your throat hurts and your temperature is 101 degrees F or higher.
  
• Your cold symptoms worsen after the third day. You may have a bacterial
  infection.