How long does a cold usually last?
A scratchy throat, a cold and a cough are the characteristic symptoms of a cold (flu-like infection). However, the duration and course of the respiratory infection can differ from patient to patient – depending on which pathogen is responsible for the cold and whether complications or additional infections occur. Another decisive factor is whether an underlying disease is present, such as congenital immune deficiency.
Rhinoviruses or adenoviruses are usually responsible for a cold. These are transmitted via small droplets of saliva that infected persons expel when coughing, sneezing or speaking (droplet infection). In addition, virus-containing secretion droplets can land on doorknobs, cutlery and other objects, where the pathogens can survive for a relatively long time. If a healthy person touches these contaminated surfaces and then touches their mouth or nose, they can become infected (smear infection). There are therefore different ways of transmission in the case of an influenza infection. However, the duration and course of the disease remain unaffected.
From the mucous membranes of the nose and throat, the viruses can spread further in the body. The deeper the pathogen penetrates in the course of the infection, the longer its duration.
Typical course of a cold
More than half of all cases of the common cold take the following course: The common cold begins with mild symptoms such as a scratchy throat or runny nose. Within two days, the symptoms increase until they reach their maximum expression on the second or third day. After that, they slowly subside again. A simple cold usually does not last longer than a week – at least if you take your illness into account.
Flu infection: course in case of complications
If you do not take sufficient care of yourself during a cold and, for example, continue to exercise, its duration will be prolonged. Flu infection means that there are viruses in the body against which the immune system must produce antibodies. This puts a strain on the body. If you put additional strain on your body during this time, you will – to put it simply – lack the strength to fight off the cold. Recovery can thus take many weeks or even months.
To a certain extent, you can influence how long a cold lasts. By taking sufficient care of yourself, you can reduce the duration and discomfort of an influenza infection.
Influenza: duration in the case of a secondary infection
In adults, a cold sometimes leads to inflammation of the lungs. Coughing and breathing problems are typical signs. The pneumonia may last for several weeks.
An inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) is very dangerous in the context of a cold. For example, if sports are continued despite a cold, such myocarditis may result. It lasts for about six weeks. It is dangerous because it is often not recognized due to weak symptoms. However, if you continue to exercise with myocarditis, it can lead to fatal heart failure in extreme cases.
Other possible secondary infections of the common cold include sinusitis and conjunctivitis.
Influenza: incubation period
Doctors refer to the period between infection with a pathogen and the onset of the disease (appearance of the first symptoms) as the incubation period. The common cold and other viral infections have a relatively short incubation period. After the viruses have entered the body, it usually takes about two to eight days for the first symptoms of a cold to appear.
Conclusion
The first symptoms of a cold (flu-like infection) appear just a few days after infection. The duration of the illness is usually short (about a week), the course relatively mild – the symptoms are annoying, but usually those affected feel only moderately restricted in their daily lives by the cold. The duration and course of the disease can be influenced positively to a certain extent by taking it easy and avoiding further risks of infection.
