As soon as a person notices the first signs of a cold, he is immediately interested in the question of how long he will recover. In the modern world there is no time to bask in bed. Of course, I want to get rid of this ailment as soon as possible and regain my usual way of life. What can we say about cases when children get sick. Each time, parents look at the thermometer with the hope of seeing the coveted numbers of 36.6 there.
In the doctor’s office the question is constantly being heard about how long the cold lasts and how soon the patient will again feel a surge of strength. The answer to this question depends on many factors.
What is a cold?
In the medical guide you will not find such a disease - a “cold”. Usually, when they say this word, it means ARVI (acute respiratory viral infection) or ARI (acute respiratory disease).
About 50 percent of human diseases are precisely these two diseases.
ARI is any infectious disease of the respiratory tract. The cause of the disease can be bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. As a rule, such an inscription can be seen on the map when the doctor does not know exactly why the symptoms appeared, but sees all the signs of infection. Most often, the test results are done for a rather long time, and the patient is more likely to recover by himself than wait for a specific diagnosis. Therefore, doctors prefer to designate the disease with such a vague name and proceed immediately to treatment.
SARS is a more specific diagnosis. An experienced specialist can understand for a number of signs whether bacteria or viruses have caused the disease. A complete blood count can confirm the doctor’s diagnosis. It is viral infections that cause epidemics, because they are very easily transmitted by airborne droplets. By the way, the answer to the question of how many days the cold lasts will also depend on the pathogen.
Causes of the disease
At the moment, more than 200 types of various viruses are known that can attack human immunity. Depending on where the disease is fixed, a name will be given. If these are the upper respiratory tract, then the disease is called rhinitis, laryngitis and so on. If the common cold reaches the lower respiratory tract, the name will be bronchitis, pneumonia, or tracheitis.
In addition to viruses, the cause of colds can be fungi and bacteria that are easily transmitted from person to person. It is enough to be in the same room with the patient, especially if he sneezes or coughs to get sick. So the question of how many days an adult has a cold should be more specific. The timing depends on the area of infection, as well as the cause of the disease.
Most often, a cold occurs if:
- the body is supercooling or overheating;
- immunity has been reduced;
- a person has experienced stress for a long time;
- the diet was violated;
- the patient has chronic diseases of other systems;
- there was a strong overwork.
Symptoms of a cold in an adult
Before answering the question of how long a cold lasts in an adult, you need to determine whether your illness is a cold.
You can independently understand that you have a cold, according to the following signs:
- Body temperature rises above 37 degrees. This is a normal reaction of the body to pathogens. Typically, a change in body temperature involves several steps. Initially, the body is rebuilt to retain heat. The skin may become slightly pale, sweat is reduced. A person may feel chills or trembling. In the second period, the temperature reaches its maximum and does not fluctuate. A person feels heat in his whole body, a feeling of chills disappears. At the last stage, the body begins to give off heat, a decrease (smooth or sharp) in temperature occurs. The patient may notice increased sweating. Remember that an increase in body temperature above 40 degrees is an occasion to call an ambulance. You should also consult a doctor if antipyretics do not help.
- Intoxication. The patient may feel pain in the body, weakness, nausea. You can also notice sleep disturbance and frequent dizziness.
- Nasal congestion. Quite often, a cold begins with this symptom. Often, swelling of the mucosa can be accompanied by sneezing.
- A sore throat. As a rule, this symptom comes immediately after a runny nose or at the same time. The pain may be barely noticeable, then the patient may feel a slight tickle. In some cases, a person experiences severe pain, the voice disappears and it becomes difficult to swallow.
- Cough. This symptom can be caused by drainage of mucus from the sinuses - such a cough does not carry any danger. But if the cough does not go away for a long time, this is an occasion to consult a doctor. Only he can determine the affected area and understand which organs were affected by the disease.
- Rashes on the body. A rather rare symptom, but in some cases, patients have small, pointed hemorrhages on the skin and mucous membranes.
How long does a cold in an adult last?
If at the first signs of the disease all measures were taken to eliminate it, then significant improvements will come in 4 days. It is worthwhile to understand that at this time the patient can infect others. Therefore, during this period it is better to stay at home. After another three days, it is advisable to wear a mask so as not to infect other people.
It is difficult to answer the question of how long a cold lasts in an adult without a fever.
For example, a runny nose usually disappears after 7-10 days. But quite often, a person has to walk with a stuffy nose for a month. All of these are normal options, and you should not worry if the nasal congestion is a little delayed.
A cough may also remain for up to 3 weeks. True, it is this symptom that is best controlled by the doctor, since various complications after the illness can be the cause of the cough.
The main thing is not to stop treatment after a drop in temperature. After all, elevated body temperature is only one of the symptoms of the disease, and its disappearance does not mean at all that you have recovered.
On average, during the year a person can get a cold 2-3 times. Most often, the disease affects the body in winter and spring, when the immune system is weakened, and the weather is unpredictable.
Symptoms of a cold in a child
A child’s illness is always a difficult period in the life of parents. Of course, it’s hard to watch when a usually cheerful child becomes lethargic and moody. The main thing in this situation is not to panic and in time to distinguish the first symptoms of the disease.
Signs of a cold in children include:
- Moodiness and apathy. The very first signs of a disease in a child are a change in their behavior. Parents can notice how their child sleeps more, and wakes up anyway lethargic and broken. In the morning the child is in a bad mood, he can also refuse to eat. Usually this condition persists for as many days as the common cold in children lasts.
- Nasal congestion. If you do not start treatment in time, then a prolonged runny nose will not keep you waiting. With heavy discharge from the nose, a cough may begin. At this point, it is important to create a humid atmosphere in the child’s room so that it is easier to breathe.
- A fairly common symptom of a cold is pain or sore throat.
- Temperature. In children, it grows much faster than in an adult. Parents need to measure it as often as possible. The child’s body can calmly cope with a small temperature, so with normal child behavior, you should not immediately take medication. But, if you see a temperature above 38 degrees on a thermometer, be sure to bring it down with antipyretics. Try not to let your child cry for a long period of time: as a rule, this increases the temperature even faster.
- Lymph nodes in the armpits and on the neck increase.
- Herpetic eruptions can pop up on the lips and face.
How long does a child have a cold?
On average, the disease in babies lasts 5-7 days. Moreover, some signs of a cold go faster than others.
The temperature lasts for the first 3 days, not counting the incubation period, when, in addition to lethargy and drowsiness, the child does not complain about anything. Coughing can continue for a week, provided that no complications have been detected. Severe nasal congestion usually disappears by day 4, but a slight runny nose can last another 3 weeks.
How long can a cold without a child have a cold? If we are talking about the complete recovery of the body and the disappearance of all symptoms, then the process can drag on for 2-3 weeks.
How to distinguish flu from colds
Before you clarify how long a cold lasts without or with a fever, make sure that the disease is not flu. This is very important, since the flu is more difficult to tolerate than regular SARS.
As a rule, the disease begins suddenly with a sharp rise in temperature to 38-39 degrees. Headache, fatigue, body aches appear. Diarrhea may begin, as well as nausea. A person feels pain in the limbs and loss of appetite.
After a common illness, which a person often carries on his feet, the body quickly comes to its senses. Influenza also spends a lot of body resources, so that the patient can feel tired and lethargic for another month.
Symptoms of complications
It happens that the body is not able to overcome the infection itself, and it penetrates further, thereby complicating the course of the disease.
The main symptoms are:
- long, persistent dry cough;
- pain in the heart;
- severe pain in the ears;
- joint aches;
- severe shortness of breath;
- a cold does not go away for 2 weeks.
Even without the occurrence of the above symptoms, it is better if the disease proceeds under the supervision of a doctor.
Prevention
Of course, everyone gets sick sooner or later. But you can protect your body as much as possible and suffer from this ailment much less often. It’s enough to follow simple rules.
- Wash hands well after being outdoors.
- When sneezing and coughing, cover your face with a handkerchief or hand.
- Touch your mouth, nose or eyes with your hands as little as possible (especially unwashed).
- Use vitamins that strengthen the immune system.
- To refuse from bad habits.
- Watch out for meals, avoid junk food and fast food restaurants.
- Do not overwork.
- Choose clothes that match the weather outside.
- Arrange outdoor walks as often as possible.
Follow these rules, and the question of how long the cold lasts will cease to worry you.
Summing up, it can be noted that the usual cold without complications goes away within a week. Some symptoms may linger, such as slight nasal congestion or coughing.
Of course, people have different immunity. Someone is able to endure a cold on their feet, and someone needs bed rest. It's okay if the disease lingers a little. But do not neglect your health: it is better to seek help from a doctor who will help you get rid of all the symptoms and return to your usual rhythm of life!