How long does a common cold last?

So how long does a cold last?

Symptoms of common colds usually  peak at 1–3 days and last between 7–10 days, although they sometimes persist for up to three weeks.

How long does a common cold last
How long does a common cold last? original Image by Anastasia Gepp from Pixabay

When to see your doctor

See your doctor if

  • your body temperature becomes remarkably high, or you feel shivery.
  • your symptoms persist for more than 3 weeks.
  • your symptoms get worse very quickly.
  • you feel concerned about your child’s symptoms.
  • you feel breathless.
  • you develop chest pain.
  • you suffer from a condition such as diabetes, or a kidney, heart, or lung disease.
  • you have a weakened immune system – for example, due to chemotherapy.

About the author

Author profile

Nwasom is a pharmacy graduate and a pharmacist currently practising in the United Kingdom. I have great experience communicating with patients and their family as gained through working as a pharmacist in both the hospital and community pharmacy sector. I love writing so it was a natural thing to try and pass medical and health information on through writing.