How Long Do Cold or Flu Symptoms Last?

Cold

Typical common cold symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, sore throat, and cough can last from 2 to 14 days.¹ However, about two-thirds of people recover in about 1 week.

Flu

For the flu, the main symptoms are coughing, aching, a high fever, and extreme fatigue.¹ Like a cold, most people recuperate within a week, but flu symptoms are more severe.²

Colds account for more school absences and missed work than any other illness. However, over-the-counter cold and flu medicines, such as Theraflu, will help ease your symptoms. Getting symptom relief during sleep can help you feel better. After all, sleep-deprived people produce fewer virus-fighting cells.⁴ If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

There are also at-home remedies you can do to ease your symptoms of a cold or the flu.

Cold

Some natural ways to relieve your cold symptoms are:

1. Hydrate

Drinking more fluids will help you if you have a cold because it can relieve any congestion you have. Water, juice, and tea can think out any mucus build-up you have in your nasal passage and chest.⁵

2. Sleep

Sleep is important when you’re sick because while you’re sleeping, your body uses the time to reenergize itself. Your immune system strengthens while you’re sleep, and that can help you recover from sicknesses like a cold.⁶

3. Use honey

Putting honey in your warm water or tea can help ease cold symptoms like congestion or a sore throat. Honey has properties in it that help reduce viruses and bacteria.⁶

4. Eat chicken soup

Not only is chicken soup warm and delicious, but its basic ingredients have properties to weaken your cold symptoms. Chicken soup has anti-inflammatory ingredients that can reduce swelling in your throat and nasal passage. ⁶

Flu

• Some of the aforementioned cold remedies might also help relieve symptoms you have from a flu virus. Cultures from around the world have found their own creative ways to relieve symptoms of the flu as well.
• They add different ingredients to their warm tea when sick with a flu virus. Things like ginger, garlic, and lemon have similar relieving effects as honey.⁷
• Some cultures also use foot baths to let the steam travel through your body from your feet and up.⁷ This warmth can help loosen congestion in your nose and chest.
• Some people like to use menthol oils, like peppermint, to relieve their symptoms when sick. Additionally, some cultures use shea butter as a way to relieve congestion.⁷

No matter if you have a cold or flu, Theraflu makes products that can help relieve your fever, cough, or sore throat

Hydrate. Drinking more fluids will help you if you have a cold because it can relieve any congestion you have. Water, juice, and tea can think out any mucus build-up you have in your nasal passage and chest.⁵

How Long Does a Cold Last? Duration and Tips for Recovery

Most colds last for 7 to 10 days. There is no way to cure the common cold, but certain remedies can help lessen the symptoms.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most adults recover from a cold in about 7 to 10 days.

Colds are a viral infection of your upper respiratory tract, which include your nose and throat. Head colds, like the common cold, are different from chest colds, which can affect your lower airways and lungs and can involve chest congestion and coughing up mucus.

Coming down with a cold can sap your energy and make you feel downright miserable. Having a sore throat, stuffy or runny nose, watery eyes, and a cough can really get in the way of going about your daily life.

This article will take a closer look at the typical symptoms of a cold for both adults and children, what you can do to ease your symptoms, and how to prevent a cold in the first place.

Typically, for most adults, the symptoms of a cold last for around 7 to 10 days.

The duration of a cold can be longer in children — up to 2 weeks.

On average, children get more colds in a year than adults. In fact, while an average adult may experience two to four colds in a year, children may have between six and eight.

Typically, a common cold includes three different phases, each with slightly different symptoms.

1. Early symptoms

The symptoms of a cold can begin as soon as 10 to 12 hours after you’ve contracted the virus. You may notice that your throat feels scratchy or sore and that you have less energy than normal. These symptoms typically last a couple of days.

2. Peak symptoms

About 2 to 3 days after you first started feeling under the weather, your symptoms will likely be at their worst. In addition to a sore, scratchy throat and fatigue, you may also develop the following symptoms:

• runny or congested nose
• sneezing
• watery eyes
• low-grade fever
• headache
• cough

3.

Late symptoms

As your cold runs its course, you’ll likely still have some nasal congestion for another 3 to 5 days. During this time, you may notice that your nasal discharge has turned to a yellow or green color. This is a sign that your body has been actively fighting the infection.

Some people may also have a lingering cough or fatigue. In some cases, a cough can last for several weeks.

Cold symptoms in children

While cold symptoms are similar in children and adults, some additional symptoms in children include:

• decreased appetite
• trouble sleeping
• irritability
• difficulty breastfeeding or taking a bottle

Although most children will get better within a couple weeks, you should keep an eye out for possible complications. These include:

• Ear infection. Look for signs of ear pain such as ear rubbing or scratching and increased irritability.
• Sinus infection. Signs to look out for include congestion and nasal discharge that continues for more than 10 days, facial pain, and possibly a fever.
• Chest infection. Check for signs that indicate difficulty breathing such as wheezing, rapid breathing, or nostril widening.

A stuffy nose is a common cold symptom because having a cold increases the levels of inflammatory compounds in your nose. These compounds can cause drainage and swelling in your nose, making it feel “stuffy.”

While the incubation period (the time between contracting a cold virus and when your symptoms first appear) is usually around 48 hours, some people report stuffy nose symptoms within hours after the cold virus enters their nasal passages.

The compounds that cause nasal irritation usually peak at about 48 to 72 hours after the virus first hits your nose. This is when your runny nose is likely to be at its worst, but it may still linger for several more days.

Your stuffy nose will likely clear up before typical later-stage symptoms like a cough.

You may be able to ease your nasal congestion by:

• Breathing in steam. Steam from a shower or from leaning over a steaming hot bowl of water may help thin out the mucus in your nose. This can help reduce inflammation and make it easier to breathe. Using a humidifier can also help soothe irritated nasal tissue.
• Using a warm compress. Placing a warm, moist towel or washcloth over your nose may help ease pain and relieve inflammation in your nostrils.
• Staying well-hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids can help thin out the mucus in your nose and reduce the pressure in your sinuses.
• Taking over-the-counter (OTC) medication. A decongestant may help reduce swelling, irritation, and nasal congestion. Examples include Sudafed and Afrin. However, it’s important not to take a decongestant for longer than 3 days unless you’ve discussed this with your doctor. Taking a nasal decongestant for more than 3 days could make your stuffiness worse.

A runny nose, also known as nasal drainage, is an unpleasant side effect of most colds. A runny nose is usually at its peak about 2 to 3 days after your symptoms start, but may last up to a week.

A runny nose usually starts out with clear, watery mucus. As your cold progresses, it often becomes thicker with more of a yellow or green tinge. The color change is good news. It means your immune system has kicked in and your white blood cells are fighting off the cold virus.

However, if your nasal discharge is a yellow or green color and lasts longer than 10 days, it could be a sign that a bacterial infection is causing your runny nose symptoms, and not a viral infection.

You may be able to ease your runny nose by taking an OTC antihistamine, like Benadryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin. These medications may help dry up a runny nose and also reduce sneezing.

The common cold is contagious. This means that it can be passed from person to person.

When you have a cold, you’re contagious from shortly before your symptoms start until they go away. However, you’re more likely to spread the virus when your symptoms are at their peak — typically during the first 2 to 3 days of having a cold.

If you’re sick, follow the pointers below to prevent spreading your cold to others:

• Avoid close contact with others, such as shaking hands, hugging, or kissing. Stay home if you can instead of going out in public.
• Cover your face with a tissue if you cough or sneeze, and dispose of used tissues promptly. If no tissues are available, cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow instead of into your hand.
• Wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Disinfect surfaces that you touch frequently, such as doorknobs, faucets, refrigerator handles, and toys.

While it’s not always possible to avoid catching a cold, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk of picking up a cold virus.

Prevention tips

• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and warm water. If washing your hands isn’t possible, you can use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer instead.
• Avoid touching your mouth, nose, eyes, especially if your hands aren’t freshly washed.
• Stay away from people who are sick. Or keep your distance so you’re not in close contact.
• Avoid sharing eating utensils, drinking glasses, or personal items with others.
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle to keep your immune system in tip-top shape. This includes eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly, and trying to keep your stress under control.

Was this helpful?

Most colds symptoms typically get better within a week or two. Generally speaking, you should see a doctor if symptoms last longer than 10 days without improvement.

There are also some other symptoms to watch out for. Follow up with your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms:

In adults

• a fever that’s 103°F (39.4°C) or higher, lasts longer than 5 days, or goes away and returns
• chest pain
• a cough that brings up foul-smelling or blood-streaked phlegm
• wheezing or shortness of breath
• severe sinus pain or headache
• severe sore throat

In children

• a fever of 102°F (38. 9°C) or higher; or above 100.4°F (38°C) in babies younger than 3 months
• persistent cough or a cough that brings up mucus
• wheezing or trouble breathing
• decreased appetite or fluid intake
• unusual levels of fussiness or sleepiness
• signs of ear pain, such as scratching of the ears

In adults, the common cold typically clears up in about 7 to 10 days. Children may take slightly longer to recover — up to 14 days.

There’s no cure for the common cold. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief. You can do this by drinking plenty of fluids, getting enough rest, and taking OTC medications where appropriate.

While colds are typically mild, be sure to see your doctor if your symptoms, or your child’s symptoms, are severe, don’t improve within 10 days, or continue to get worse.

How many days do people get sick with the flu: the incubation period of the flu – December 22, 2022

All news days, and he drowned almost immediately

You don’t need to go there tomorrow either: we collected all the ceilings in the center of Volgograd in one picture

“In the rain and in the hurricane. ” An IT specialist for 18 years every week winds up the clock at the church – without him, the unique clocks will stop

In Volgograd, the ex-director of “Concessions” was charged with a faecal failure in the floodplain of the Tsaritsa in eating hot dogs at speed

Unemployment in Russia is at a record low. The authorities say it’s good. And in fact?

This is not our area of ​​responsibility: the regional operator accused the residents of Volgograd and the authorities of organizing a garbage apocalypse

All of them, it turns out, have no criminal record: the court of cassation canceled the verdict to the Melkonyan family . They have been suing for three years

“It’s a toy for adults.” Director of “Titanic” – about the deadly catastrophe with the bathyscaphe

“Catastrophic explosion”. How billionaires died on the missing bathyscaphe: the version of the authorities0003

The billionaires who disappeared on the Titan submersible died. Official statement of the company

Wreckage was found at the place where the bathyscaphe with billionaires went missing. But the search continues

He dragged his foot through the door: near Volgograd, an employee of the Heating Networks attacked a taxi passing by him — video

111 years ago, the wealthy Strauss couple refused to leave the sinking Titanic. One of the passengers of the missing bathyscaphe is the husband of their great-great-granddaughter

The State Department called the supply of weapons to Ukraine a “US strategy”: NWO news for June 22

Law enforcement agencies will check the video of the trash-steamer from Volgograd with insults to Muslims

,

in Volgograd transferred 11 orders of courage to close to the soldiers in Ukraine

Communications from the Volgograd with their Verkhograd. easier not to fly. But it turned out that everything is not so strict. Russian photographer dispelled the myths about Saudi Arabia How not to accidentally lose the purchased property: instruction

Is there still hope? Experts told whether members of the crew of the missing Titan submersible can survive

Intoxication, pain and vomiting: mass poisoning of land near Volgograd

How often to water and feed strawberries: we get large sweet berries and properly protect them from the weevil

A year without Yura Shatunova. Let’s remember what the artist was like and how he left: video

Godfather. How a businessman sent his best friend and his godson to the colony – they called him a hanger-on

The fire stretched for hundreds of meters: firefighters extinguish burning reeds and plastic near Volgograd

“Columns of smoke can be seen across the Volga”: a video from the fire site in the industrial zone near Volgograd appeared

“Plastic containers are burning”: a large fire broke out in the industrial zone near Volgograd

The front of the car was torn apart: near Volgograd, three people were injured in a head-on collision

“For getting to know a Kazakh girl”: a crowd of men beat a young man in the center of Volgograd

Soft-boiled machines. In Dagestan, there was a fatal accident with a truck, a passenger car and a bus with tourists

“He took off his sneaker and threw it into it”: in Volgograd, a girl attacked her lover with a knife

“Proposals to stop supporting developers have already been made. ” Experts on the situation on the real estate market

“Nobody needs her”: the gnawed corpse of a huge dog was thrown in the middle of Volgograd

“We see no need for new volunteers”: Shoigu told how many Russians signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense

All news

If the symptoms persist after the illness, this does not mean that the person is contagious

Photo: Daria Selenskaya / City portals

some patients suffer from the flu – it was detected in 70% of patients with symptoms of an acute respiratory viral infection. Of course, few people take the flu as seriously as covid, and this is understandable – the majority endure the disease without complications. However, for those who are at risk – the elderly, young children, patients with chronic diseases, it can be deadly. That is why the patient should, if possible, isolate himself from them while he is contagious.

— In complicated cases of SARS, that is, a viral infection and influenza, well, about seven days from the onset of the disease, that is, from the onset of symptoms, says Dr. Andrey Pozdnyakov. – As a rule, further the body completely eliminates the virus from itself and the person is no longer contagious. Therefore, about a week, sometimes less, especially if a person has met this virus before.

Andrey Pozdnyakov — infectious disease specialist, candidate of medical sciences, chief physician of the clinical diagnostic laboratory of INVITRO-Siberia LLC.

At the same time, a person will no longer be contagious in a week, even if the symptoms and complications of the disease persist. Even if a secondary bacterial infection joins, there is no contagiousness at this point, as with covid.

– In order for a person to be contagious, it is necessary that a sufficient number of viral particles be released per unit time from the upper respiratory tract, – explains immunologist Nikolai Kryuchkov. When the symptoms go away, the person is no longer contagious. But if you need to determine exactly, then you need to look at PCR by this moment. If the PCR is negative, then the person is not contagious.

Nikolai Kryuchkov — Immunologist, General Director of LLC Clinical Excellence Group, Associate Professor of the I.M. Sechenov Medical University.

The most insidious in terms of contagiousness is the extremely mild course of the flu. A person may feel only mild manifestations of symptoms, but not pay attention to them, because they do not interfere in any way.

– At the same time, it can be contagious – however, the contagious period will be shorter. That is, this is not an incubation period, but, as it were, an infection, but very weakly manifested, – says Nikolai Kryuchkov.

The incubation period for influenza is less than a week, and during the incubation period, a person does not spread the virus, contagiousness occurs just before the onset of symptoms. For covid, for example, this is about a day before the onset of symptoms, and for the flu even later – a few hours.

Influenza, like other acute respiratory viral infections, usually begins with weakness, fever, general malaise. The head of Rospotrebnadzor, Anna Popova, noted earlier that the so-called swine flu, which is circulating this year, does not have any specific symptoms. However, it has its own characteristics – it causes an active epidemic process in high seasons, that is, when there are more cases than usual – these occur about once every five years.

Due to the fact that more people are ill, there are also more deaths during swine flu years. Statistics on the number of cases and deaths from influenza in recent months has not yet been published, but individual reports of deaths come from different regions. Recently, we talked about the sudden deaths of children diagnosed with SARS – in early December, several such cases became known at once.

• Doctors say that ARVI and flu spread during the cold season, but it can be said that it has just begun. Understanding how long the flu outbreak will last;

• Along with the increase in the incidence of influenza, the daily increase in covid patients is also growing. Read what happens if you get infected with two viruses at once;

• nevertheless, no anti-epidemic measures were introduced at the federal level. Rospotrebnadzor explained why.

Related

• December 27, 2022, 16:32

  He is getting more aggressive and scary: the number of swine flu cases has increased in Volgograd

• April 21, 2023, 08:00

  Measles outbreaks are already in every second region of the country. Should we expect an epidemic?

• January 19, 2023, 08:00

  The virus is gone, but the symptoms remain: for whom swine flu is dangerous even after recovery

• January 19, 2023, 11:00

• March 15, 2023, 10:00

  “Probability of getting infected is 100%”: outbreaks of measles in the regions of Russia, doctors demand to vaccinate everyone who is not vaccinated

Ekaterina Bormotova

Journalist of the national editorial office

ARVI and influenza 9 SURPRISE0

See the typo? Select the fragment and press Ctrl+Enter

COMMENTS4

Read all comments

Guest

Login

Media news2

Media news2

Clinical recommendations for SARS – GBUZ BGDB No.

1

Clinical guidelines:

“Acute respiratory viral infection (ARVI) in children. ICD 10: J00 / J02.9 / J04.0 / J04.1 / J04.2 / J06.0 / J06.9

Year of approval (frequency of revision): 2018 (revision every 3 years)

Professional associations: Union pediatricians of Russia

Approved by: The Union of Pediatricians of Russia

Appendix C. Information for patients

ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) is the most common disease in children.

The cause of the disease is a variety of viruses. The disease often develops in autumn, winter and early spring.

How they become infected with an infection that causes SARS: most often by getting on the nasal mucosa or conjunctiva from hands contaminated by contact with the patient (for example, through a handshake) or with surfaces infected with the virus (rhinovirus persists on them for up to a day).

Other way – airborne – by inhalation of saliva particles released when sneezing, coughing or in close contact with the patient.

Period from infection to onset of illness: in most cases 2 to 7 days. Isolation of viruses by patients (infectiousness for others) is maximum on the 3rd day after infection, sharply decreases by the 5th day; mild shedding of the virus can persist for up to 2 weeks.

Signs of ARVI: the most common manifestation of ARVI in children is nasal congestion, as well as nasal discharge: transparent and / or white and / or yellow and / or green (appearance of yellow or green nasal discharge is not a sign of bacterial infection). infections!). An increase in temperature often lasts no more than 3 days, then the body temperature decreases. In some infections (influenza and adenovirus infection), the temperature above 38? C persists for a longer time (up to 5-7 days).

SARS can also cause: sore throat, cough, red eyes, sneezing.

Examinations: in most cases, additional examinations are not required for a child with SARS.

Treatment: SARS, in most cases, is benign, resolves within 10 days and does not always require medication.

Decrease in temperature: a feverish child should be opened, wiped with water T° 25-30°C. In order to reduce the temperature in children, it is permissible to use only 2 drugs – paracetamol or ibuprofen. Antipyretic drugs in healthy children ≥3 months are justified at temperatures above 39- 39.5°C. With a less pronounced fever (38-38.5 ° C), fever-reducing agents are indicated for children under 3 months old, patients with chronic pathology, as well as temperature-related discomfort. Regular (course) intake of antipyretics is undesirable, a second dose is administered only after a new increase in temperature.

The alternation of these two drugs or their use in combination does not lead to an increase in the antipyretic effect.

Do not use acetylsalicylic acid and nimesulide for antipyretic purposes in children. It is highly undesirable to use metamizole in children due to the high risk of developing agranulocytosis. In many countries of the world, metamizole has been banned for use for over 50 years.

Antibiotics – do not work on viruses (the main cause of SARS). Antibiotics are considered if a bacterial infection is suspected. Antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor. Uncontrolled use of antibiotics can promote the development of resistant microbes and cause complications.

How to prevent the development of SARS:

A sick child should be left at home (do not take to kindergarten or school). Of paramount importance are measures to prevent the spread of viruses: thorough hand washing after contact with the sick.

It is also important to wear masks, wash surfaces around the patient, and observe the ventilation regimen. Annual influenza vaccination from age 6 months reduces the risk of this infection. It has also been proven that vaccination of children against influenza and pneumococcal infections reduces the likelihood of developing acute otitis media in children and the complicated course of SARS. There is no reliable evidence of a decrease in respiratory morbidity under the influence of various immunomodulators.