Common Cold - Symptoms

Once acquired, the cold virus attaches itself to the lining of the nasal (nose) passages and sinuses. Infected cells begin to give off a chemical called histamine (pronounced HISS-tuh-meen). Histamine causes swelling, congestion (stuffiness), and increased production of mucus. One to three days after infection, a person begins to feel cold symptoms caused by these changes.

The first of these symptoms include a tickle in the throat, runny nose, and sneezing. Initially, discharge from the nose is clear and thin. Later it changes to a thick, yellow or greenish discharge. Young children often develop a fever of up to 102°F (39°C). Adults are less likely to have a fever with a cold.

Other signs of a cold are coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, headache, muscle ache, chills, sore throat, hoarseness, watery eyes, tiredness, and lack of appetite. The cough that accompanies a cold is usually intermittent (it comes and goes) and dry.

Most people begin to feel better four or five days after cold symptoms first appear. All symptoms are usually gone within ten days. Sometimes a dry cough can linger for up to three weeks.

Colds make people more open to bacterial infections, such as strep throat, middle ear infection, and sinus infections. Some warning signs of a bacterial infection include chest pain, fever for more than a few days, difficulty breathing, bluish lips or fingernails, skin rash, and swollen glands. A person with these symptoms should see a doctor for possible treatment.

For some people, colds can cause more serious health problems. Anyone with complications of the respiratory (breathing) system, such as emphysema (pronounced em-fi-SEE-muh; see emphysema entry), chronic lung disease, diabetes (see diabetes entry), or with a weakened immune system (as caused by AIDS) should see a doctor if they catch a cold.