How Long Does a Cold Last

Is there any person in the whole world who is not affected by common cold for at least once during his/her whole lifetime? No. Cold is one of the common diseases among humans, especially children and the elderly. It can affect people of all ages, and those with a weak immune system are more prone to this disease, which is also known as viral upper respiratory tract infection. Even though it may lead to some complications in people with some other medical conditions, normally common cold is considered to be harmless and not life threatening. Let us know more about this disease and how long does a cold last.

What Causes Common Cold?

Common cold is a contagious disease which can be caused by various types of viruses. It is believed that there are around 200 viruses which can cause a cold, and the most common among them are rhinovirus, coxsackievirus and coronavirus. About 50% of cold are caused by rhinoviruses. The symptoms also vary with the type of virus that causes the disease. As cold can be caused by many types of viruses and new viruses develop constantly due to mutation, it is difficult for the human body to build up resistance against this disease. Hence, cold has become a recurring disease which affects school going children for about three to twelve times per year. In case of adults, it can be around three to four times a year. This makes common cold one of the most frequently occurring disease across the globe. Usually, common cold is spread as a result of direct contact (hand to hand) with the contaminated surfaces, or with the saliva or nasal secretions of the infected person. According to some studies, the cold virus can survive for several hours on objects like books, pens, keyboards, etc.

Common Cold Symptoms

Even though the symptoms vary with the type of virus that causes the infection, the basic symptoms of all variants of common cold are sneezing, running and stuffy nose, watery eyes, sore throat, cough, etc. It can be accompanied by headaches, muscle aches, weakness, loss of appetite, shivering and exhaustion. In normal cases, fever does not develop, as it is more associated with influenza, which is often mistaken as cold. But many people experience chill and not fever when infected with cold. However, in some people, common cold can lead to acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, sinusitis, croup, pneumonia, otitis media, or strep throat. It can also aggravate the symptoms of asthma and chronic bronchitis.

How Long Does a Cold Last?

This is a question that can never be answered in definite terms and very accurately. it differs from person to person and place to place. Usually, the symptoms of cold appear after two to three days of actually getting infected. The symptoms will be more severe during the first three to four days, and this period is considered to be the most contagious phase. But the person who has suffered the cold can be pass on the virus for up to three weeks after the symptoms appear. In normal cases, the cold symptoms may subside within five days to one week, but in some people it may take up to two weeks to clear up. As said earlier, its duration can vary quite erratically depending on various factors like the respective person, location, care taken, etc. If proper care is taken, obviously it will subside and go away faster.

How to Treat a Cold?

There is no specific cure for common cold, and there are over-the-counter medicines to reduce the symptoms. Such medicines can be cough syrups to reduce cough, throat sprays or lozenges to alleviate strep throat, antihistamines for nasal congestion, and analgesics for fever and headache. Supportive measures like, taking rest, having plenty of liquids, and gargling with warm salt water are also recommended. Make sure not to give aspirin and cough syrup to children under the age of four. Antibiotics are not effective against common cold, as it is targeted at bacteria and there is no approved antiviral against cold.

It is always better to prevent the occurrence of cold, as this disease is a self-limiting one. It runs for a specific period of time and subsides with or without treatment. You can prevent the occurrence of cold by maintaining personal hygiene, especially washing hands with soap regularly. But if the symptoms get worse or the cold does not subside within ten days, you have to consult a doctor. Medical attention is needed if you develop any other symptoms like wheezing or breathing trouble.