Duration of a cold
The duration of a cold can vary greatly and depends primarily on the nature of the pathogen, its aggressiveness and quantity, as well as the state of the immune system. Rules of thumb say that a cold lasts between 7-10 days. However, this can only be assumed in adults with an intact immune system and a typical viral cold virus.
Small children as well as older people often have to fight the cold a few days longer. However, the typical cold should not be confused with the flu, which occurs seasonally, especially in the winter months, and is much rarer overall. The flu often takes a more severe course, which is why the duration of the illness is also worse in addition to the severity of the symptoms. If the course of the disease is particularly protracted, bacterial inflammation must also be distinguished. The immune system is often unable to fight the pathogens on its own, which is why it may be necessary to take an antibiotic.
What delays the course?
The two main influences on the duration and course of the cold are the type of pathogen and the immune system. The latter can be partially influenced by the person affected. It is important to support the immune system during the illness and not to burden the body unnecessarily.
Premature work or sports while the symptoms are still subsiding can severely weaken the immune system, making the disease more difficult, delaying it or causing it to return after healing. Furthermore, severe cold hinders the immune system, from where the cold gets its name. The cold itself does not make you ill, but the immune system is weakened to such an extent that one of the many pathogens with which you have daily contact leads to the illness.
Furthermore, it is assumed that psychological and physical stress, as well as severe sports overwork and unhealthy or unbalanced nutrition have negative influences on the immune system. However, the nature of the pathogen cannot be influenced. With viruses, the so-called “virulence” plays a particularly important role.
The decisive factor here is how well the pathogens penetrate the mucous membranes, how quickly they multiply and how resistant they are to the immune system. Seasonal influenza viruses are often much more persistent than conventional cold viruses. It is particularly important to differentiate them from bacterial infections, as they prolong the course of the disease considerably.
