How long does a typical cold last. What is the average duration of flu symptoms. When should you seek medical attention for a cold or flu. How can you differentiate between a cold and the flu. What are effective home remedies for cold and flu relief.

Understanding the Common Cold: Symptoms and Duration

The common cold is a viral infection that affects millions of people each year. It primarily impacts the upper respiratory tract, including the nose and throat. While often considered a minor inconvenience, colds can significantly disrupt daily life and productivity.

How long does a typical cold last? For most adults, cold symptoms persist for about 7 to 10 days. However, the duration can vary depending on individual factors such as overall health, age, and immune system strength. Children may experience longer cold durations, sometimes up to two weeks.

The Three Phases of a Cold

1. Early symptoms (Days 1-2): Scratchy or sore throat, fatigue
2. Peak symptoms (Days 3-5): Runny nose, congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, low-grade fever, headache, cough
3. Late symptoms (Days 6-10): Lingering nasal congestion, improving cough

Is it possible to shorten the duration of a cold? While there’s no cure for the common cold, certain remedies and lifestyle adjustments can help alleviate symptoms and potentially reduce the overall duration of the illness.

Flu vs. Cold: Distinguishing Symptoms and Timelines

While colds and flu share some similarities, they are caused by different viruses and often present distinct symptoms and durations. Understanding these differences can help in proper self-care and knowing when to seek medical attention.

Cold Symptoms

• Gradual onset
• Mild to moderate discomfort
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Slight fatigue

Flu Symptoms

• Sudden onset
• Severe discomfort
• High fever (usually above 100.4째F or 38째C)
• Body aches
• Extreme fatigue
• Headache
• Dry cough

How long does the flu typically last? Most people recover from the flu within one week, though some symptoms, particularly fatigue, may linger for several weeks. The flu often feels more severe than a cold and can lead to more serious complications, especially in high-risk individuals.

Effective Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Relief

While medical treatments can help manage symptoms, many people turn to home remedies to alleviate discomfort and potentially speed up recovery. Here are some evidence-based strategies for both cold and flu relief:

Hydration is Key

Why is staying hydrated crucial when you have a cold or flu? Proper hydration helps thin mucus, making it easier to expel, and supports overall immune function. Aim for water, herbal teas, and clear broths. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Rest and Sleep

How does sleep impact cold and flu recovery? During sleep, your body produces and releases cytokines, proteins that help fight infection and inflammation. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night, and don’t hesitate to nap during the day if you feel the need.

Natural Remedies

• Honey: Add to warm tea or water to soothe sore throats and suppress coughs.
• Chicken soup: Provides hydration and may have anti-inflammatory properties.
• Ginger, garlic, and lemon: These ingredients in tea may help boost immune function and provide symptom relief.
• Steam inhalation: Can help loosen congestion and provide temporary relief from nasal symptoms.

Are there any risks associated with natural remedies? While generally safe, it’s important to consult with a healthcare provider before using any new treatments, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications.

Over-the-Counter Medications for Symptom Management

When home remedies aren’t providing sufficient relief, over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help manage cold and flu symptoms. It’s important to choose the right medication for your specific symptoms and to follow dosage instructions carefully.

Common OTC Options

• Decongestants: Help relieve nasal congestion
• Antihistamines: Can reduce runny nose and sneezing
• Pain relievers: Such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, can help with fever, headaches, and body aches
• Cough suppressants: Help control coughing, especially at night
• Expectorants: Loosen mucus to make coughs more productive

How do you choose the right OTC medication? Consider your primary symptoms and any pre-existing health conditions. Multi-symptom products like Theraflu can provide relief for various symptoms simultaneously, but be cautious of overlapping ingredients if taking multiple medications.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Cold and Flu Symptoms

While most colds and cases of flu resolve on their own, certain symptoms or situations warrant professional medical attention. Being aware of these red flags can help prevent complications and ensure proper treatment when necessary.

Signs You Should See a Doctor

• Fever above 103째F (39.4째C) or lasting more than 3 days
• Severe headache or throat pain
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Confusion or extreme drowsiness
• Symptoms that worsen after initial improvement
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement

Who is at higher risk for complications from colds and flu? Certain groups, including young children, older adults, pregnant women, and individuals with weakened immune systems or chronic health conditions, should be especially vigilant and seek medical attention promptly if symptoms worsen or persist.

Prevention Strategies: Keeping Colds and Flu at Bay

While it’s not always possible to avoid catching a cold or the flu, there are several effective strategies to reduce your risk of infection and spread.

Hygiene Practices

• Hand washing: Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid touching face: Keep hands away from eyes, nose, and mouth to prevent virus entry.
• Cover coughs and sneezes: Use a tissue or the crook of your elbow to prevent spreading droplets.
• Disinfect surfaces: Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Lifestyle Factors

• Maintain a healthy diet: Consume a variety of fruits and vegetables to support immune function.
• Exercise regularly: Moderate exercise can boost immune system activity.
• Manage stress: Chronic stress can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections.
• Get adequate sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to support overall health and immunity.

Can vaccines prevent colds and flu? While there’s no vaccine for the common cold, annual flu vaccines can significantly reduce your risk of contracting influenza and may lessen the severity of symptoms if you do get sick.

The Impact of Colds and Flu on Daily Life and Productivity

Colds and flu don’t just affect individual health; they have a significant impact on society as a whole, leading to missed work days, decreased productivity, and increased healthcare costs.

Economic and Social Consequences

• Workplace absenteeism: Colds account for more missed workdays than any other illness.
• Reduced productivity: Even when people work while sick (presenteeism), their performance is often compromised.
• Healthcare burden: Increased doctor visits and medication purchases during cold and flu season strain healthcare resources.
• Educational disruptions: School absences due to colds and flu can impact student learning and academic performance.

How can employers and schools mitigate the impact of colds and flu? Implementing policies that encourage sick individuals to stay home, promoting good hygiene practices, and providing resources for preventive care (such as on-site flu vaccinations) can help reduce the spread of illness and minimize disruptions.

Mental Health Considerations

Beyond the physical symptoms, colds and flu can also affect mental well-being. The fatigue and discomfort associated with these illnesses can lead to temporary mood changes, increased stress, and feelings of isolation, especially if one needs to stay home to recover.

What strategies can help maintain mental health during illness? Staying connected with friends and family (virtually if necessary), engaging in relaxing activities, and practicing mindfulness or meditation can help manage the psychological impacts of being sick.

Emerging Research and Future Perspectives on Cold and Flu Management

As our understanding of viral infections evolves, researchers continue to explore new approaches to preventing and treating colds and flu. These advancements could potentially change how we manage these common illnesses in the future.

Promising Areas of Research

• Universal flu vaccine: Scientists are working on developing a vaccine that could provide protection against multiple strains of influenza, potentially eliminating the need for annual shots.
• Antiviral treatments: New antiviral medications are being developed to more effectively combat both cold and flu viruses, potentially shortening the duration and severity of symptoms.
• Immune system modulation: Research into how the immune system responds to viral infections could lead to new therapies that enhance the body’s natural defenses.
• Microbiome studies: Understanding the role of the gut microbiome in immune function may open up new avenues for preventing and treating respiratory infections.

How might these advancements change cold and flu management in the coming years? If successful, these research areas could lead to more targeted and effective treatments, reduced illness durations, and potentially even the ability to prevent colds and flu more reliably.

The Role of Technology

Advancements in technology are also playing a role in how we approach cold and flu management:

• Telemedicine: Remote consultations can provide quick access to medical advice, potentially reducing the spread of illness.
• AI-powered diagnostics: Machine learning algorithms could help differentiate between cold, flu, and other respiratory infections more accurately.
• Wearable devices: Health trackers that monitor body temperature, heart rate, and other vital signs could provide early warning signs of infection.

How can individuals stay informed about the latest developments in cold and flu research? Following reputable health organizations, subscribing to medical journals, and discussing new findings with healthcare providers can help you stay up-to-date on the latest advancements and recommendations for cold and flu management.

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.

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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.

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Ekaterina Bormotova

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ARVI and influenza 9 SURPRISE0

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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.