Common cold

A common cold is a very mild viral infection, and it's very common. You can often treat it without seeing a doctor. Most people begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.

The main symptoms of a common cold are:

• a sore throat
• a blocked or runny nose
• sneezing
• a cough
• a hoarse voice
• generally feeling unwell

Less common symptoms of a cold are:

• a high temperature (fever), usually about 37°C to 39°C (98.6°F to 102.2°F)
• a headache
• earache (severe earache may be a sign of a middle ear infection)
• muscle aches
• loss of taste and smell
• mild irritation of your eyes
• a feeling of pressure in your ears and face

Speak to a doctor if you:

• are more short of breath than usual
• have pain when breathing in or coughing
• feel confused, dizzy or lightheaded
• have a very high or low temperature (for example, you feel either hot or cold to touch, or you're shivering)
• have had a fever for more than 3 days
• have symptoms that are not improving, or they are affecting your daily life
• have a long-term medical condition (for example, diabetes, or a heart, lung or kidney condition)
• have a weakened immune system (for example, because you're having chemotherapy)

Information on breathing problems in children

If you can't reach your doctor, call a doctor or the 16263 health line.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have a cold and would like advice and treatment.

There's no cure for a cold, but you can look after yourself at home while it runs its course. Most people start to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.

• rest
• drink plenty of fluids
• eat healthily
• take over-the-counter pain relief, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve high temperature and aches
• use decongestant sprays or tablets to relieve a blocked nose
• try remedies such as gargling salt water and sucking on menthol sweets

Always read the leaflet that comes with your medicine before you take it, and follow the recommended dosage instructions. If you're not sure which treatments are suitable for you or your child, speak to a pharmacist for advice.

Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you're taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets. Cough and cold medicines often contain paracetamol and ibuprofen too, so it's easy to take more than the recommended dose.

A person with a cold can pass it on from a few days before their symptoms start until the symptoms have gone.

You can catch the cold virus from someone who is infectious in three ways:

• touching an object or surface that has infected droplets on it, and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes
• touching the skin of someone who has infected droplets on their skin, and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes
• breathing in tiny droplets of fluid that carry the virus, which are thrown into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes

Different viruses can cause a cold. So it's possible to have one cold after another, because each one may be caused by a different virus.

• wash your hands often, especially before touching your nose or mouth and before handling food
• always sneeze and cough into tissues
• throw away used tissues straight away and wash your hands
• clean surfaces regularly
• use your own cup, plates, cutlery and kitchen utensils
• do not share towels or toys with someone who has a cold

It's not always easy to tell a common cold from flu, because the symptoms can look alike. The main differences are in how flu symptoms behave. Flu symptoms:

• come on quickly
• usually include a headache, high temperature (fever) and sore muscles
• make you feel too unwell to continue your usual activities

Cold symptoms are different:

• they come on slowly
• they mainly affect your nose and throat
• they are fairly mild, so you can still get around and are usually well enough to go to work

A common cold usually clears up without causing any further problems. Sometimes, though, the infection can spread to your chest, ears or sinuses.