Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and the common cold (The Basics)

What causes cough, runny nose, and other symptoms of the common cold? — These symptoms are usually caused by a viral infection. Lots of different viruses can get into your nose, mouth, throat, or airways and cause cold symptoms.

Most people get over a cold without any lasting problems. Even so, having a cold can be uncomfortable. Also, some cold symptoms can also be caused by other illnesses, such as coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) or the flu.

What are the symptoms of the common cold? — The symptoms include:

●Sneezing

●Coughing

●Sniffling and runny nose

●Sore throat

●Chest congestion

In children, the common cold can also cause a fever. But adults do not usually get a fever when they have a cold. Some symptoms of the common cold can overlap with symptoms of COVID-19, although sneezing might be less common in COVID-19.

When should I call the doctor or nurse? — Contact your doctor or nurse if you live in an area where people have COVID-19. They will ask you questions about your symptoms and whether you might be at risk. They can tell you if you should get tested for the virus that causes COVID-19. If they think you are more likely to just have a cold, they might tell you to stay home and contact them again if your symptoms change or get worse.

You should also contact your doctor or nurse if you:

●Lose your sense of taste or smell

●Have a fever of more than 100.4ºF (38ºC) that comes with shaking chills, loss of appetite, or trouble breathing

●Have a very bad sore throat

●Have a fever and also have lung disease, such as emphysema or asthma

●Have a cough that lasts longer than 10 days or starts getting worse

●Have chest pain when you cough or breathe deeply, have trouble breathing, or cough up blood

If you are older than 65, or if you have any chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, you should contact your doctor or nurse any time you get a long-lasting cough.

Take your child to the emergency department if they:

●Become confused or stop responding to you

●Have trouble breathing or have to work hard to breathe

Contact your child's doctor or nurse if the child:

●Loses their sense of taste or smell or won't eat foods they ate before

●Has a very bad sore throat

●Refuses to drink anything for a long time

●Is younger than 4 months

●Has a fever and is not acting like themselves

●Has a cough that lasts for more than 2 weeks and is not getting any better or is getting worse

●Has a stuffed or runny nose that gets worse or does not get any better after 10 days

●Has red eyes or yellow goop coming out of their eyes

●Has ear pain, pulls at their ears, or shows other signs of having an ear infection

What can I do to feel better? — If you are a teenager or an adult, you can try cough and cold medicines that you can get without a prescription. These medicines might help with your symptoms. But they won't cure your cold, or help you get well faster.

If you decide to try nonprescription cold medicines, be sure to follow the directions on the label. Do not combine 2 or more medicines that have acetaminophen in them. If you take too much acetaminophen, the drug can damage your liver. Also, if you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, or you take any prescription medicines, ask your pharmacist if it is safe to take the cold medicine you want to try.

Because colds are usually caused by viruses, antibiotics will not help.

You can try the following things to help you feel better:

●Drink lots of fluids (water, juice, or broth) to stay hydrated. This will help replace any fluids lost if you have a runny nose or sweating from a fever. Warm tea or soup can help soothe a sore throat.

●If the air in your home feels dry, you can use a humidifier. This can help a stuffy nose and make it easier to breathe.

●You can also use saline nose drops or spray to relieve stuffiness.

What should I know if my child has a cold? — In children, the common cold is often more severe than it is in adults. It also lasts longer. Plus, children often get a fever during the first 3 days of a cold.

Are cough and cold medicines safe for children? — If your child is younger than 6, you should not give them any cold medicines. These medicines are not safe for young children. Even if your child is older than 6, cough and cold medicines are unlikely to help.

Never give aspirin to any child younger than 18 years old. In children, aspirin can cause a life-threatening condition called Reye syndrome. When giving your child acetaminophen or other nonprescription medicines, never give more than the recommended dose.

Instead of medicines, you can try encouraging your child to drink lots of fluids, using a humidifier, or using saline nose drops to relieve stuffiness.

How long will I be sick? — Colds usually last 3 to 7 days in adults and 10 days in children, but some people have symptoms for up to 2 weeks.

Can the common cold lead to more serious problems? — In some cases, yes. In some people, having a cold can lead to:

●Ear infections

●Worsening of asthma symptoms

●Sinus infections

●Pneumonia or bronchitis (infections of the lungs)

How can I keep from getting another cold? — The most important thing you can do is to wash your hands often with soap and water. This can also prevent the spread of other illnesses like the flu and COVID-19. The table has instructions on how to wash your hands to prevent spreading illness (table 1).

The germs that cause the common cold can live on tables, door handles, and other surfaces for at least 2 hours. You never know when you might be touching germs. That's why it's so important to clean your hands often.

It's also important to stay away from other people when you are sick. When you do need to be around other people, you might consider wearing a face mask. This will help prevent the spread of illness.

More on this topic

Patient education: COVID-19 overview (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
Patient education: Sore throat in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Fever in children (The Basics)
Patient education: What you should know about vaccines (The Basics)
Patient education: Giving your child over-the-counter medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough in children (The Basics)
Patient education: Coughing up blood (The Basics)
Patient education: What you should know about antibiotics (The Basics)

Patient education: The common cold in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: The common cold in children (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Allergic rhinitis (Beyond the Basics)