{"id":13066,"date":"2020-09-23T10:00:05","date_gmt":"2020-09-23T14:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=13066"},"modified":"2024-05-28T09:54:07","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T13:54:07","slug":"how-long-does-a-cold-last","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/how-long-does-a-cold-last\/","title":{"rendered":"How long does a cold last?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Duration<\/a> | Risk factors<\/a> | Recovery and treatment<\/a> | When to see a doctor<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

If you’ve ever had a stuffy nose, runny nose, or fever, you may have had a common cold. Colds are a type of viral infection of the <\/span>upper respiratory tract<\/span><\/a>, including the nose and throat. The common cold is called that for a good reason. More than 2 million people in the United States will get a cold each year, making it one of the most frequent illnesses. Those with weakened immune systems, such as pregnant women and children, are especially prone to catching a cold. Let’s look at some cold facts like common symptoms, how long they last, the best recovery and treatment for them, those with risk factors for contracting the virus, and how to know when it’s time to see a doctor.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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How long does a cold last?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many different cold viruses exist, but rhinoviruses are the most common. Other cold-causing viruses include respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, and human metapneumovirus, among others. The amount of time someone has a cold will depend on their overall health and age. Generally speaking, most colds will go away on their own within a couple of weeks in healthy people. Infants, younger children, and seniors are more prone to catching colds than young and middle-aged adults.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How long does a cold last in adults?<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<\/span>CDC<\/span><\/a>), a cold can last anywhere from seven to 10 days for healthy adults. The average adult will get about two to three colds per year, but they could get more or less depending on their immune system’s strength. It’s not uncommon for young children to get<\/span> eight to 10 colds per year<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>often spreading the virus to family members<\/span>. Most people in the United States get colds in the winter and spring which is the corresponding cold season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

After a brief incubation period of one to three days, there are early, peak, and late symptoms correlating to expected stages of a cold, Identification of these first symptoms is the best way to identify a common cold is coming on, and are useful to know so you can tell whether your cold is going away or getting worse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n