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Nighttime Coughing: 5 Proven Ways to Stop It
How long does a common cold last?
Generally speaking, a cold lasts between 7 and 10 days 1, and the worst of the symptoms usually ease up after 7 days for most people 2. Although some symptoms may clear up faster, for example, a sore throat, others, like a cough, may linger 2. It can take up to 3 weeks for a cough to clear up completely 2.
What Are the Four Stages of Common Cold? Symptoms & Treatment
We can divide a cold into 4 stages 3:
- Incubation period
- Symptoms
- Remission
- Recovery
Stage 1: Incubation period
The incubation period for a cold virus is usually between 24 hours and 72 hours 3. During this period, you will not show any symptoms yet, but you may already be contagious. So, if you are out in the world, doing the rounds, living your usual routine, you may pass on the virus to other people for 1–3 days before you even feel any of the symptoms yourself 3.
Stage 2: Showing symptoms
How to treat common cold symptoms?
Unfortunately, there is still no cure for the common cold, so you’ll have to wait it out 1. However, home remedies and OTC medications can help ease the symptoms and make you feel better while you wait for the storm to pass.
Some of the remedies you can try are:
- Sucking on pastilles containing menthol, or other hard candies, can help relieve your sore throat 4.
- Using an air humidifier or vaporizer, which can help relieve the mucus in your nose and throat 5.
- Warm saltwater gargles may help with your sore throat and mucus 4.
- Warm tea with honey or hot soup may help ease your sore throat 5.
- Popsicles or ice chips can help numb the pain in your throat 5.
Stages 3 and 4: Remission and Recovery
During remission, your symptoms will begin to gradually subside 3. It usually takes 3–10 days for symptoms to go away completely and for recovery to start 3. In the recovery period, you’ll return to your normal activities, even if some symptoms, such as a mild cough, may persist 3. You can continue to use home and Over The Counter remedies to soothe your symptoms during this period 3.
How can I quickly get rid of common cold and the flu?
How long is common cold contagious?
A person is contagious from the moment they have caught the cold virus, even if they do not show any symptoms 3, 7. They then continue to be contagious while showing symptoms.
When your symptoms are at their worst you are the most contagious 7. A person stops being contagious with the common cold when all of their symptoms are gone 7. This usually takes up to 2 weeks 7, but can be longer for some people. If your symptoms become worst or last longer than usual, contact your doctor.
FAQs
The symptoms of an Infection with the COVID-19 Omicron variant can be similar to the common cold. The top 5 symptoms of the Omicron infection are a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and a sore throat 8.
In the remission stage of the cold, you’ll start noticing that your symptoms are easing and becoming milder 3.
There is no evidence to suggest that regularly taking vitamin C will help you prevent a cold 9, 10. However, if you’re in the habit of taking vitamin C supplements regularly before you get a cold, it may shorten the time that you are sick 9, 10.
We need more research to know for sure, and there is no evidence to show that taking vitamin C after you become sick helps 10.
Usually, a cold lasts between 7 and 10 days in adults 1.
Small children usually recover from a cold in 5–7 days, but a stubborn cold can last up to 2 weeks 11. Babies should be checked by a doctor to ensure there is no serious underlying cause to their symptoms.
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Products
Mucosolvan® Cough Syrup | 30MG/5ML
Mucosolvan® Chesty Cough Syrup provides an effective relief from cough with mucus for both children* and adults.
Mucosolvan® LA (Long Acting) | 75MG
Mucosolvan® long-acting (LA) capsules is the first cough medicine with micro-pearls for use in adults and children above 12 years of age.
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1. CDC, Common Colds, Protect Yourself and Others, accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://www.cdc.gov/rhinoviruses/about/index.html
2. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Common colds: Overview. [Updated 2020 Oct 8]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279543/
3. Zina Semenovskaya, MD, How Long Does a Cold Last? Duration and Stages, K Health, accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://khealth.com/learn/cold-and-flu/how-long-a-cold-lasts/
4. NHS inform, Common cold - Illnesses & conditions, accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/infections-and-poisoning/common-cold
5. NIH News in Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, March 2013, accessed 06/12/2022, available at https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/03/soothing-sore-throat
6. Kardos P, Dinh QT, Fuchs KH, Gillissen A, Klimek L, Koehler M, Sitter H, Worth H. German Respiratory Society guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of adults suffering from acute, subacute and chronic cough. Respir Med. 2020 Aug-Sep;170:105939. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2020.105939. Epub 2020 Apr 25. PMID: 32843157.
7. NHS, How long is someone contagious after a viral infection?, accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/infections/how-long-is-someone-infectious-after-a-viral-infection
8. ZOE app, “What are the symptoms of Omicron?,” accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://joinzoe.com/learn/omicron-symptoms
9. InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Common colds: Does vitamin C keep you healthy? [Updated 2020 Oct 8]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279544/
10. Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013 Jan 31;2013(1):CD000980. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4. PMID: 23440782; PMCID: PMC8078152.
11. NHS, Colds, coughs and ear infections in children, accessed 08/12/2022, available at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/health/colds-coughs-and-ear-infections-in-children/
a. Mucosolvan Syrup leaflet last revised in July 2022.
b. Mucosolvan 75mg capsules leaflet last revised in July 2022.