Symptoms Of The Common Cold - How To Tell If It Is More Than A Cold

Symptoms of the common cold typically include a runny nose, and nasal congestion but there are additional symptoms that lead to the diagnosis of the common cold such as sneezing, sore throat, cough and headache.

A cold is a viral infection of the respiratory tract with over 200 viruses potentially responsible for causing this annoying but generally harmless condition. This article takes a closer look at the medical symptoms associated with a cold so you can determine if indeed this is a cold or something worse.

Common Cold Symptoms And Causes

After coming in contact with the virus, symptoms will typically begin to show within 2 or 3 days, but may take up to one week to be apparent. The earliest symptoms may be an irritated nose or "scratchy throat". Other symptoms present in most cases of the common colds include:

Runny or stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
Watery eyes
Sneezing
Young children may run a fever of approximately 100-102 degrees F. However, adults and older children with cold symptoms generally have a very low fever or no fever at all.

Nasal secretions tend to thicken and may be yellow or green in color within a few days of the cold onset. This is a normal expectation and is not necessarily an indication of cold complications.

Additional symptoms may be present depending on which virus is causing the cold. These symptoms may include:

Cough (unproductive, meaning no mucus is coughed up)
Sore throat
Loss of appetite
Headache
Muscle or joint ache
Post nasal drip
Fatigue
The common cold is one of the most prevalent health conditions with an estimated one billion colds experienced each year in the United States alone. Children are the most susceptible, with the average child experiencing eight colds each year. Colds can occur at any time of the year but they tend to occur more often during the winter months (in areas that do not have winters, colds are more common during the rainy season).

The common cold can be caused by a variety of viruses including, rhinovirus, coxsackievirus, coronavirus, etc. The virus is spread through nasal secretions via sneezing, nose-blowing, or nose-wiping. You can catch a cold by coming in contact with the virus and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth. You can also catch a cold by inhaling the virus if you are too close to an infected person when they sneeze.

Colds are most contagious for the first two or 3 days and not contagious at all after approximately one week.

Common Cold Diagnosis And Treatment

Diagnosis is typically based on observation of the aforementioned symptoms. You should contact your doctor if you develop difficulty breathing, if a fever is present or if symptoms persist and do not improve after 7 to 10 days.

With treatment, emphasis is placed on preventing the spread of the virus. Care should be taken to wash hands frequently, especially after blowing your nose. Instant hand sanitizers use alcohol to kill germs and may be an effective alternative if soap and water are not available.

The common cold usually runs its course in 10-14 days as symptoms disappear. Medications (including antibiotics) do nothing to cure the infection, although over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen, decongestants, cough medicines, or analgesics may be used to relieve symptoms. Aspirin should not be used for this or any other viral infection.

Medical experts recommend against the use of cough and cold medications for children under the age of 6. Talk with your doctor before giving a young child over-the-counter cold medication.

There are new antiviral medications available, which may shorten the duration of cold symptoms. However, it is unclear whether the benefits of these drugs outweigh the risks. Speak with your doctor if you are considering using an antiviral medication for treatment of a common cold.

Self-care may be the best treatment option for alleviating the uncomfortable symptoms associated with a cold. These home care remedies include:

Getting plenty of rest
Maintaining adequate fluid intake
Inhaling steam to relieve nasal congestion
Sucking on lozenges for sore throat relief
Alternate treatments (Echinacea, Vitamin C, Zinc)