Print Overview Related information COVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences? - Related informationCOVID-19, cold, allergies and the flu: What are the differences? The common cold is an illness affecting your nose and throat. Most often, it's harmless, but it might not feel that way. Germs called viruses cause a common cold. Often, adults may have two or three colds each year. Infants and young children may have colds more often. Most people recover from a common cold in 7 to 10 days. Symptoms might last longer in people who smoke. Most often, you don't need medical care for a common cold. If symptoms don't get better or if they get worse, see your health care provider. Illnesses of the nose and throat caused by germs are called upper respiratory tract infections.Products & ServicesA Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home Remedies SymptomsMost often, common cold symptoms start 1 to 3 days after someone is exposed to a cold virus. Symptoms vary. They can include: Runny or stuffy nose. Sore or scratchy throat. Cough. Sneezing. Generally feeling unwell. Slight body aches or a mild headache. Low-grade fever. The mucus from your nose may start out clear and become thicker and yellow or green. This change is normal. Most often, it doesn't mean that you have a bacterial illness. When to see a doctorFor adults. Most often, you don't need medical care for a common cold. But see your health care provider if you have: Symptoms that get worse or do not get better. Fever greater than 101.3 degrees Fahrenheit (38.5 degrees Celsius) that lasts more than three days. Fever returning after a fever-free period. Shortness of breath. Wheezing. Intense sore throat, headache or sinus pain. For children. Most children with a common cold don't need to see a health care provider. Get medical care right away if your child has any of the following: Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in newborns up to 12 weeks. Rising fever or fever lasting more than two days in a child of any age. More-intense symptoms, such as headache, throat pain or cough. Trouble with breathing or wheezing. Ear pain. Fussiness or drowsiness that isn't typical. No interest in eating. Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview. Email Address 1 ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry CausesMany viruses can cause a common cold. Rhinoviruses are the most common cause. A cold virus enters the body through the mouth, eyes or nose. The virus can spread by: Droplets in the air when someone who is sick coughs, sneezes or talks. Hand-to-hand contact with someone who has a cold. Sharing objects with the virus on them, such as dishes, towels, toys or telephones. Touching your eyes, nose or mouth after contact with the virus. Risk factorsThese factors can increase the chances of getting a cold: Age. Infants and young children have a greater risk of colds than other people, especially if they spend time in child care settings. Weakened immune system. Having a long-term illness or weakened immune system increases your risk. Time of year. Both children and adults are more likely to get colds in fall and winter. Smoking. Smoking or being around secondhand smoke increases the risk of catching a cold. Exposure. Being in crowds, such as at school or on an airplane, increases the chance of getting a cold. ComplicationsThese conditions can occur along with your cold: Middle ear infection. This is the swelling and build-up of fluids in the space behind the eardrum. It may be caused by a virus or bacteria. Typical signs and symptoms include earaches or the return of a fever following a common cold. Asthma. A cold can trigger wheezing, even in people who don't have asthma. For people with asthma, a cold can make it worse. Sinusitis. In adults or children, a common cold that lasts a while can lead to swelling and pain in the sinuses. These are air-filled spaces in the skull above the eyes and around the nose. A virus or bacteria may cause sinusitis. Other illnesses. A common cold can lead to illnesses of the lungs, such as pneumonia or bronchitis. People with asthma or weakened immune systems have an increased risk of these conditions. More InformationPlugged ears: What is the remedy? PreventionThere's no vaccine for the common cold. You can take these steps to slow the spread of the virus and prevent illness: Wash your hands. Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Teach your children the importance of hand-washing. Try not to touch your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. Clean and disinfect. Clean and disinfect surfaces that are touched often. These include doorknobs, light switches, electronics, and kitchen and bathroom countertops. This is especially important when someone in your family has a cold. Wash children's toys often. Cover your cough. Sneeze and cough into tissues. Throw away used tissues right away, and then wash your hands. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into the bend of your elbow, and then wash your hands. Don't share. Don't share drinking glasses or silverware with other family members. Stay away from people with colds. Avoid close contact with anyone who has a cold. Stay out of crowds when possible. Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth when you're in crowds. Review your child care center's policies. Look for a child care setting with good hygiene practices and clear policies about keeping sick children at home. Take care of yourself. Eat well, exercise and get plenty of sleep to help you stay healthy. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment May 24, 2023 Print Show references AAP Committee on Infectious Diseases. Recommendations for prevention and control of influenza in children, 2017-2018. Pediatrics. 2017; doi:10.1542/peds.2017-2550. Sullivan JE, et al. Clinical report — Fever and antipyretic use in children. Pediatrics. 2011; doi:10.1542/peds.2010-3852. Reaffirmed July 2016. 314 labeling of drug preparations containing salicylates. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=76be002fc0488562bf61609b21a6b11e&mc=true&node=se21.4.201_1314&rgn=div8. Accessed Feb. 22, 2018. Renaud DL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Feb. 27, 2018. Common colds: Protect yourself and others. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/features/rhinoviruses/. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. AskMayoExpert. Upper respiratory tract infection. Mayo Clinic; 2019. Common cold. Merck Manual Professional Version. https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/respiratory-viruses/common-cold?query=Common%20Cold. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Common cold. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/colds.html. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Natural medicines for cold and flu. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Green JL, et al. Safety profile of cough and cold medication use in pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2017; doi:10.1542/peds.2016-3070. When to give kids medicine for coughs and colds. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/when-give-kids-medicine-coughs-and-colds. Accessed Jan. 20, 2021. Sexton DJ, et al. The common cold in adults: Treatment and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 21, 2021. Vitamin C. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Echinacea. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Zinc. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Jan. 15, 2021. Sore throats. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery. https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/sore-throats/. Accessed Jan. 20, 2021. Pappas DE. The common cold in children: Management and prevention. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Jan. 23, 2021. Baughn JM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. Feb. 12, 2021. Related Cold or allergy: Which is it? Cold remedies Cold symptoms: Does drinking milk increase phlegm? Do zinc supplements shorten colds? Humidifiers Neti pot: Can it clear my nose? Plugged ears: What is the remedy? Vicks VapoRub: An effective nasal decongestant? Warm-mist versus cool-mist humidifier: Which is better for a cold? Show more related content News from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Minute: Can vitamin C keep the common cold away? Jan. 24, 2024, 05:00 p.m. CDT Mayo Clinic Minute: Can cold weather cause a cold? Jan. 16, 2024, 04:00 p.m. CDT Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Guide to Home Remedies Common coldSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatment Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. 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