Symptoms such as a cough, sneezing, and a sore throat are common when you have a cold. But if your symptoms are unusually severe or long lasting, it’s a good idea to contact a doctor.

Common cold symptoms typically appear 1 to 3 days after you contract a cold virus. The short period before symptoms begin is called the incubation period. Symptoms often go away within a week, although they may last as long as 2 weeks.

Read on to learn more about some of the common symptoms of a cold.

A runny nose and nasal congestion (a stuffy nose) are two of the most common symptoms of a cold. These symptoms occur when excess fluid causes swelling of the blood vessels and mucous membranes in your nose.

Within 3 days of the start of these symptoms, nasal discharge tends to become thicker and may turn yellow, green, or white. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these changes are expected and are usually not a sign of a more serious condition.

You might also experience postnasal drip, which occurs when mucus travels from your nose down to your throat.

These nasal symptoms are common with colds. But it’s a good idea to consult a doctor if they last more than 10 days.

You should also contact a doctor if you have yellow or green nasal discharge along with a severe headache, sinus pain, or a fever that lasts more than 4 days. This combination of symptoms may indicate a sinus infection.

Sneezing happens when the mucous membranes of your nose and throat are irritated.

When a cold virus infects nasal cells, your body releases natural inflammatory mediators such as histamine. These inflammatory mediators cause your blood vessels to dilate and leak, and your mucus glands release fluid, leading to the irritation that causes sneezing.

A dry cough or one that brings up mucus, known as a wet or productive cough, can accompany a cold. Coughs tend to be the last cold-related symptom to go away and may last up to 3 weeks. Contact a doctor if coughing lasts longer than that.

You should also consult a doctor in any of the following situations:

  • You’ve coughed up blood.
  • You’ve coughed up yellow or green mucus that is thick and smells bad.
  • You have a severe cough that comes on suddenly.
  • You have a preexisting heart condition or swelling in your legs and develop a cough.
  • Your cough worsens when you lie down.
  • Your cough is accompanied by a loud noise when you breathe in.
  • You have both a cough and a fever.
  • You have a cough along with night sweats or sudden weight loss.
  • Your child has a cough and they are less than 3 months old.

A sore throat feels dry, itchy, and scratchy. It makes swallowing painful and can even make it difficult for you to eat solid food. Tissue inflammation brought on by a cold virus can cause a sore throat. In other cases, a sore throat can be the result of postnasal drip or even something as simple as prolonged exposure to a hot, dry environment.

In some cases, a cold virus can cause slight all-over body aches or a headache. These symptoms are more common with the flu.

You might develop a low grade fever when you have a common cold. If you or your child (3 months old or older) has a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, contact a doctor. If your child is younger than 3 months old and has a fever of any kind, the CDC recommends getting medical care right away.

Other symptoms you might experience with a common cold include watery eyes and mild fatigue.

In most cases, symptoms of the common cold are not a cause for concern and can be treated with fluids and rest. But colds are not to be taken lightly in infants, older adults, and people with chronic health conditions.

A common cold can even be fatal to the most vulnerable members of society if it turns into a serious chest infection like bronchiolitis, which is caused by the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Adults

With the common cold, you’re not likely to experience a high fever or be sidelined by fatigue. These are symptoms commonly associated with the flu.

Contact a doctor if you have:

  • cold symptoms that last longer than 10 days
  • a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
  • a fever with sweating, chills, or a cough that produces mucus
  • severely swollen lymph nodes
  • severe sinus pain
  • ear pain
  • chest pain
  • trouble breathing or shortness of breath

Children

Contact a pediatrician immediately if your child:

  • is 3 months old or older and has a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher
  • is under 3 months old and has any fever
  • has a fever that has lasted for more than 4 days
  • has cold symptoms (of any type) that have lasted for more than 10 days
  • is vomiting or having abdominal pain
  • is wheezing or having trouble breathing
  • has a stiff neck or a severe headache
  • is not drinking and is urinating less than usual
  • is having trouble swallowing or is drooling more than usual
  • is complaining of ear pain
  • has a persistent cough
  • is crying more than usual
  • seems unusually sleepy or irritable
  • has a blue or gray tint to their skin, especially around the lips, nose, and fingernails

A common cold causes symptoms such as a cough, a runny nose, a fever, and sneezing. These symptoms are usually not a cause for concern and are likely to clear up within 10 days.

It’s a good idea to contact a doctor if your symptoms are unusually severe or last longer than 10 days, if you have a fever for more than 4 days, or if you have any other health conditions that may be affected by cold symptoms.

It’s important to contact a doctor if a child under 3 months old has a fever of any kind.

A doctor will be able to determine whether a more serious condition is causing your symptoms and whether you need any treatment.