How Long Does It Take To Get Over a Cold?

Colds have a reputation for taking a long time to get over. A cold typically lasts seven days but may last as long as 10 days. Some symptoms, such as a cough, can linger up to three weeks. A head cold causes symptoms that affect your head, such as a runny or stuffy nose. A chest cold, in contrast, typically causes a cough and chest congestion.

You can usually treat a cold at home by getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated. Read on to learn how long it takes to get over a cold and when to contact a healthcare provider.

Common Cold Symptoms 

A cold typically develops two to three days after exposure. It might take as long as one week for symptoms to appear.

Common cold symptoms include:

• Coughing
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Post-nasal drip
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Scratchy or sore throat
• Sneezing

Stages of a Cold

A cold typically occurs in four stages, which include:

• Incubation: The cold spreads from person to person through respiratory droplets. These droplets spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus will replicate in your body during the incubation period before you develop symptoms. This period typically lasts two to three days but can be as long as one week.
• Symptoms: You'll then develop cold symptoms, which peak after two to three days.
• Remission: Cold symptoms generally improve within seven days but may last as long as 10 days. It's also normal for certain symptoms, such as a cough, to linger for up to 14 days.
• Recovery: Most people recover from a cold at home. Make sure you get plenty of rest and stay hydrated to feel better during this period.

Symptoms in Children

Children may develop cold symptoms like:

• A tickle in the throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Mild fever
• Muscle aches
• Runny or stuffy nose with thick mucus that's green or yellow
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Tiredness

Children might be sick longer and get colds more often than adults. Adults tend to have two to three colds per year. The average child, in contrast, has seven to 10 colds per year. Symptoms can last up to 14 days in young children.

How Long Do Colds Last?

The typical cold lasts between seven and 10 days. Do not worry if your symptoms last longer than that. This is just the typical duration, meaning it's not out of the ordinary if your cold lasts a little longer than 10 days. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a runny or stuffy nose (congestion) can last up to two weeks.

You might have lingering symptoms for days or even weeks after your cold has gone away. This is known as a post-viral syndrome, which mostly takes the form of a cough that sticks around for up to three to eight weeks.

How To Shorten a Cold

There's a lack of research on how to shorten a cold. Experts say there's nothing you can do to make symptoms go away quicker than usual. Some evidence suggests that taking echinacea or zinc right at the start of a cold might shorten it. The results, however, are not clear.

Managing Cold Symptoms 

There's no cure for a cold, but certain medicines can manage symptoms. These medicines will not shorten a cold but can help you feel better in the short term.

Prevention 

More than 200 viruses may cause a cold, the most common being rhinoviruses. These viruses spread from person to person, say, if an infected person coughs or sneezes near you. Viruses are too small to see, but you can protect yourself and others from them in several ways.

Prevent Getting a Cold

You cannot always prevent a cold, but you can take steps to lower your risk. To avoid getting a cold:

• Disinfect commonly touched surfaces (e.g., countertops and door knobs)
• Opt for small daycare classes if you have young children
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have access to soap and water
• Use disposable paper towels instead of cloth towels
• Wash your hands with soap and water regularly for at least 20 seconds

Prevent Spreading a Cold 

You are probably not contagious if you are in the post-viral syndrome stage. Assume you are contagious if you are still in that stuffy nose, sneezy, full-blown cold period.

To avoid spreading a cold:

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the crook of your elbow
• Stay home if you are sick
• Use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol if you do not have access to soap and water
• Wash your hands with soap and water regularly for at least 20 seconds

A cold can present similarly to COVID-19. Make sure you test negative for COVID before returning to work.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider

If your symptoms last longer than seven to ten days or worsen, contact a healthcare provider. If you have trouble breathing, get medical attention right away.

A healthcare provider can rule out and diagnose other causes of a lingering cough. A chest X-ray, for example, can check for a mass. Pulmonary function tests look for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

A Quick Review

A typical head or chest cold lasts three to 10 days, but it's normal to have lingering symptoms for two weeks or more. Common cold symptoms include aches, cough, runny and/or stuffy nose, and sore throat. No cure exists for your cold and experts say there's not much you can do to make it go away faster. However, certain medications can help you manage symptoms.

It can take up to four weeks to feel completely over a cold. That's not necessarily cause for worry. See a healthcare provider to rule out other underlying health concerns if your symptoms do not improve or worsen after four weeks.