How Long Does a Cold Last?

The stages of a common cold include an incubation period lasting two to three days before symptoms develop. A cold may last as long as two weeks, though symptoms typically improve during that time. Typically, cold symptoms include a runny or stuffy nose, scratchy throat, and sneezing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates millions of cases of the common cold in the U.S. yearly. Adults get about two to three colds annually, and children get them more frequently.

You cannot entirely avoid the common cold, even with proper handwashing and avoiding people who are sick. Still, you can prepare for illness if it happens to strike. 

Here's more about the timeline of the common cold—from infection to symptom onset to when you will likely start feeling better.

Four Stages of a Cold 

A common cold begins with the incubation period, with symptoms beginning two to three days later. Often, symptoms subside on their own after seven days. A cough and a runny or stuffy nose may last as long as two weeks.

Incubation

Like many respiratory viruses, the common cold spreads via person-to-person contact. Infected respiratory droplets from one person make their way into another, Sterling Ransone, MD, an associate clinical professor of family medicine and population health at Virginia Commonwealth University, told Health.

You do not get sick right away. The virus needs time to replicate in your body and cause symptoms. The time from exposure to when you start feeling symptoms is known as the incubation period.

Cold viruses usually have an incubation period of about 24–72 hours, Matthew Goldman, MD, a family physician at the Cleveland Clinic in Parkland, Fla., told Health.

Other times, it could take up to a week for cold symptoms to present. How long the incubation period lasts depends on several factors, including the cold virus you came into contact with.

Symptoms 

Commonly, cold symptoms include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Scratchy throat
• Sneezing

There are many kinds of cold viruses, which may cause various symptoms, such as:

• Cough
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Postnasal drip, or when mucus from your nose drains down your throat
• Sore throat

Generally, adults do not have a fever with a cold, or they may develop a very low fever. In contrast, children may run a fever of up to 102 degrees.

Some evidence suggests that cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat and fatigue. About 40% of people with a cold later develop a cough, runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing. Typically, cold symptoms peak within two to three days.

Remission

Typically, cold symptoms go away or improve within seven days. As your symptoms improve, you may notice changes in them. For example, your mucus may start as a clear, thin liquid, then turn into a thick, yellowish-green liquid after two to three days.

It's typical for certain symptoms, like a cough and runny or stuffy nose, to linger for as long as 14 days. Consult a healthcare provider if those symptoms are not improving after seven days or are worsening.

Recovery 

Cold symptoms get better on their own. Since viruses cause the common cold, antibiotics will not help improve your symptoms. Antibiotics treat bacterial infections.

Instead, try some of the following to help yourself feel better as you recover:

• Breathe in steam from hot water.
• Get plenty of rest.
• Relieve a stuffy nose with saline drops or nasal spray. Use a rubber suction bulb for young children.
• Stay hydrated by drinking fluids.
• Use a cool mist vaporizer or humidifier to moisten the air.
• Use honey or lozenges to reduce coughing or soothe your throat. Do not give honey to children younger than 1 or lozenges to those younger than 4.

Consult a healthcare provider before using over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to treat cold symptoms. Ask a healthcare provider if you are unsure if an OTC medicine is safe for a child.

Alternative treatments, like echinacea, vitamin C, and zinc, may alleviate cold symptoms. Talk to a healthcare provider before using an alternative treatment.

How Long Does a Cold Last?

The usual recovery period for a cold lasts seven days. Cold symptoms may linger for up to two weeks but ought to improve during that time. While two weeks may seem like a long period, the cold is usually worst at the start.

"In most cases, symptoms are usually worst in the beginning and diminish over time as the immune system builds resistance," said Dr. Goldman.

People with weak immune systems or other health concerns might have cold symptoms longer than others. Particularly, people who smoke may have severe cold symptoms, noted Dr. Goldman.

In some cases, those people may develop complications like bronchitis or pneumonia. Bronchitis, or a chest cold, happens if the airways in your lungs swell and mucus develops in your lungs. Pneumonia occurs if the air sacs in your lungs fill with fluid or pus. Consult a healthcare provider if you develop a worsening cough with or without mucus.

How Long Are You Contagious?

You are most likely to spread a cold shortly after infection, usually within the first two to three days. Most people are not contagious after one week. Still, there is a slight chance you can spread the virus.

"If you've got a cough, you're spreading respiratory droplets," said Dr. Ransone. Likewise, stay away from others if you are sneezing. Respiratory droplets can spread through coughing or sneezing.

Make sure to sanitize commonly shared items, and do not share cups or silverware with others if you have cold symptoms. Remember to toss tissues after using them.

When To Reach Out to a Healthcare Provider

The first step for treating a common cold is to do so at home. Get plenty of rest and stay hydrated by drinking fluids. Many people's immune systems can fight off a cold relatively easily and within a few days. Still, there is a chance for complications to arise.

In some people, complications from a cold may include:

• Bronchitis
• Ear infection
• Pneumonia
• Sinus infection

Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not go away within ten days or you have difficulty breathing.

Colds share many symptoms with allergies, COVID-19, and the flu. Usually, allergies cause itchy ears, eyes, and nose. You may have allergies if your symptoms subside after getting rid of potential allergens.

COVID-19 and the flu are likelier to cause a fever and muscle aches than colds. While cold symptoms develop gradually, flu symptoms appear suddenly. 

You may want to take a COVID-19 test if you were knowingly exposed to COVID-19 and begin showing symptoms shortly after. That way, you do not risk spreading COVID-19 to others.

A Quick Review

A cold may last two weeks, though symptoms gradually improve. Remember to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated by drinking fluids while you recover from a cold.

Consult a healthcare provider if your symptoms do not go away or worsen. Some people, especially those with weak immune systems or smokers, might develop complications like bronchitis or pneumonia.