Symptoms of Common Cold

What are the symptoms of the common cold?

Symptoms of the common cold are generally mild and appear two to three days after exposure to a cold virus. Symptoms can vary depending on the specific type of virus causing the cold.

Common cold symptoms include:

• Body aches

• Cough

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Low-grade fever

• Post-nasal drip

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Sore throat

• Stuffy nose or nasal congestion

• Watery eyes

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

In some cases, a cold can result in serious complications, such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis. Call 911 or seek immediate medical care if you, or someone you are with, are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• Change in alertness or level of consciousness

• Chest pain

• Deep, wet chest cough that produces yellow, green or brownish phlegm

• High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Lethargy or unresponsiveness

• Shortness of breath

• Wheezing, a whistling sound made with breathing

Is it a cold or the flu?

With the first signs of a cold you may wonder if you caught a cold or the flu. Symptoms of a cold and the flu can be similar. So what’s the difference?

When you have a cold, the symptoms are generally mild and include runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and possibly a low-grade fever below 101 degrees Fahrenheit.

When you have the flu, you may have the same symptoms, but you will probably experience more severe and uncomfortable symptoms. Flu symptoms include a high fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit), coughing, headache, body aches, extreme fatigue, and sore throat. In children, symptoms of the flu can also include abdominal pain and vomiting.