Common cold: symptoms, what to take and when to see a doctor

The common cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat. It spreads through droplets released when someone coughs or sneezes and through close contact with a sick person. In Puerto Rico you may hear it called "catarro" or "monga".

According to the CDC, symptoms usually peak within 2 to 3 days, and a cold usually lasts less than a week. There is no cure, but it gets better on its own. It is different from the flu, which starts suddenly with high fever and strong body aches.

Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.

A cold is handled in a US$79 doctor visit, the same price for every age, with no membership. You pay by card when you request the visit, and you get a full refund if the visit can’t take place. We do not bill insurance; the lab and the pharmacy charge separately. See all prices. The service is run by The Health Initiative, a nonprofit.

The most common symptoms, according to the CDC, are:

• Runny nose
• Stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Headache
• Mild body aches
• Fever, usually low

Antibiotics don’t work on a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work against bacteria. Taking them when you don’t need them won’t help and can cause side effects. Mucus turning yellow or green after a few days is normal and, on its own, doesn’t mean you need an antibiotic. Read more in antibiotics: when they help.

Over-the-counter medicines can ease symptoms for a while, but they don’t cure a cold. For a stuffy nose and a cough that won’t go away, see those guides too. Read the label and don’t combine products that share an ingredient, such as acetaminophen.

A cold almost never needs lab work. If the doctor suspects another cause, such as dengue, flu or strep throat, she gives you a lab order for testing at a lab near you.

• Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
• For pain and fever, acetaminophen or ibuprofen as the label directs. If dengue is possible, use acetaminophen only.
• A cool-mist humidifier or saline nose rinse can ease a stuffy nose.
• Stay home while you have a fever, wash your hands, and cover coughs and sneezes.

Young children get more colds than adults, and some fever is normal. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), over-the-counter cough and cold medicines are not recommended under age 4; from 4 to 6, only if a doctor recommends them. The FDA says children under 2 should never get products with a decongestant or antihistamine. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used for fever, dosed by weight; ibuprofen only from 6 months of age. Never give honey to a baby under 1 year.

According to MedlinePlus, book a visit if your child is 2 or younger and the fever lasts longer than 24 to 48 hours, or is older and the fever lasts longer than 48 to 72 hours. See also fever in children. The doctor sees your child by video with you on camera; patients under 21 need a parent or legal guardian on camera with ID. See cough in children for more.

For safety: a baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher needs the emergency room right away.

A fever with pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint or bone pain, nausea, vomiting or a rash may be dengue, not a cold. If dengue is possible, do not take aspirin or ibuprofen; the CDC recommends acetaminophen. Warning signs usually start as the fever goes away: belly pain, repeated vomiting, or bleeding from the nose or gums. Read dengue warning signs.

The CDC says to get medical care for a fever lasting more than 4 days, symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improving, dehydration, or fast or difficult breathing.

For your safety, go to the emergency room or call 911 if you have any of these signs:

• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Bluish or gray lips or face
• Chest pain or pressure
• Confusion or being hard to wake
• Dehydration: no urine in 8 hours, very dry mouth
• Dengue warning signs: belly pain, repeated vomiting or bleeding
• A baby under 3 months with a temperature of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher