Why do colds last so long?

A cold is the result of a common viral infection. Your body’s immune system works to fight off the virus and, in the process, creates inflammation.

This inflammation is what leads to cold symptoms, such as sneezing, coughing, and a sore throat.

Most of these symptoms typically resolve within a few days, but some can last several weeks. There’s no cure for the common cold, but self-care and over-the-counter (OTC) medications can help relieve symptoms.

How long does a cold typically last? 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a cold can last for up to 10–14 days. The peak of symptoms is usually at 2–3 days.

Although you might experience a decrease in your symptoms after 1–2 weeks, the symptoms of a cold can last much longer. Congestion, runny nose, and cough can all last longer than 14 days.

A 2020 review notes that it can take up to 18 days for adults to get over a cough and up to 3 weeks for children.

When a virus enters your body, your immune system causes inflammation to fight it. Generally, the symptoms of a cold aren’t from the virus itself but from the inflammation, which can remain for up to several weeks.

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What are the stages of a cold? 

Although you may have a cold for 1–2 weeks, you likely won’t have the same symptoms over that period of time. Here are the general stages of a cold:

Stage 1: Incubation

A cold can occur when a virus, such as a rhinovirus, infects the tissue inside the nose. Symptoms can appear as quickly as 10–12 hours after this infection.

The immune system creates inflammation in the area, causing blood vessels to open wider. This leads to congestion. 

Other symptoms, such as runny nose, sneezing, and mucus production, can also occur from this inflammatory response.

Stage 2: Symptom onset

Your symptoms will typically peak 2–3 days into a cold, and you might experience the following:

• sneezing
• a stuffy nose
• a runny nose
• coughing
• sore throat
• watery eyes
• fever

During this time, your nasal mucus might change color. White mucus means your immune system is flushing the virus out.

Yellow or green mucus can mean the white blood cells the immune system sends to fight the cold are being flushed out of the body.

Stage 3: Symptoms subside

During this stage of the cold, you see most of your symptoms resolve. A sore throat can typically last up to 8 days, while a headache might last for 9–10 days. Other symptoms, such as congestion, runny nose, and cough, might still remain.

Stage 4: End stage

The end of the cold happens as your symptoms start to resolve. Cough, runny nose, and congestion can all last longer than 14 days but should typically go away after this time.

What home remedies can help?

Several home remedies and self-care options can help relieve cold symptoms.

They include the following:

• getting plenty of rest
• drinking lots of fluids
• using a vaporizer that emits a cool mist
• using a saline nasal drops or spray
• breathing in steam from a shower
• using cough drops or lozenges
• taking zinc within 24 hours of symptoms starting

Medication options

There is no cure for the common cold, but you can take OTC medications to help relieve symptoms.

Common OTC options include:

• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) for pain and fever
• analgesics, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a runny nose and body pain
• nasal decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Afrin) can be used short-term for a stuffy nose in adults
• antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) for overall cold symptoms

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When should you speak with a doctor?

If you have a cold, it can be a good idea to closely monitor your symptoms to know when to consider consulting a doctor.

Consider getting medical attention if you have:

• worsening symptoms, like a fever of 101 degrees or higher
• symptoms that get better then worse
• symptoms that don’t ease after 10 days
• trouble breathing or rapid breathing
• facial pain
• severe headache
• worsening of a chronic medical condition
• dehydration

Summary

A cold may last for a long time due to the inflammation caused by the body’s immune system.

Still, symptoms will generally improve within a few days but can linger for up to 3 weeks. If symptoms don’t get better after 10 days or if you have severe or unusual symptoms, consider speaking with a doctor. 

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