Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection) Quiz
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Sore throat
Fatigued
Dry cough
Nasal congestion
Scratchy throat
Stuffy nose
Frequent sneezing
Wet cough
Runny nose
Throat hurts to swallow
Unexplained joint pain
Throat and ear pain
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)?
Viral infection of the nose and throat. Symptoms include coughing, runny nose, and throat pain. Most colds are caused by viruses; a few are caused by bacteria.
Typical Symptoms of Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
- Discharge of yellow or green sputum.
- Whole body pain
- Sore throat with pain when swallowing
- Fever
- Warm hands and feet
- Headache
- Pain at the back of the head
- Breathing is weaker than usual
Diagnostic Questions for Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have yellow or green sputum?
- Do you have pain all over your body?
- Do you have a sore throat with pain when swallowing?
- Do you have a fever?
- Do you have warm hands and feet?
Treatment of Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
The common cold usually resolves on its own and does not require specific treatment. Healthcare professionals can suggest ways to alleviate symptoms.
Reviewed By:
Unnati Patel, MD, MSc (Family Medicine)
Dr.Patel serves as Center Medical Director and a Primary Care Physician at Oak Street Health in Arizona. She graduated from the Zhejiang University School of Medicine prior to working in clinical research focused on preventive medicine at the University of Illinois and the University of Nevada. Dr. Patel earned her MSc in Global Health from Georgetown University, during which she worked with the WHO in Sierra Leone and Save the Children in Washington, D.C. She went on to complete her Family Medicine residency in Chicago at Norwegian American Hospital before completing a fellowship in Leadership in Value-based Care in conjunction with the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, where she earned her MBA. Dr. Patel’s interests include health tech and teaching medical students and she currently serves as Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona School of Medicine.
Yoshinori Abe, MD (Internal Medicine)
Dr. Abe graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 2015. He completed his residency at the Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Longevity Medical Center. He co-founded Ubie, Inc. in May 2017, where he currently serves as CEO & product owner at Ubie. Since December 2019, he has been a member of the Special Committee for Activation of Research in Emergency AI of the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine. | | Dr. Abe has been elected in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia Healthcare & Science category.
Content updated on Dec 13, 2024
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Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)?
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- My whole body aches and I feel weak
- Pain when swallowing
- Have a fever
- Body aches and chills
- Hands and feet feel hot
- Hard to eat
- Joint pain and stiffness all over body
- My body is hot
- Whole body aches no fever
- Difficult to swallow food because of pain
- Hot palms and feet
- My whole body hurts
- Recurrent fevers
- Throat feels burnt when I drink
- Whole body pain
See full list
Symptoms Related to Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
Diseases Related to Common Cold (Upper Respiratory Tract Infection)
FAQs
Q.
Does Zinc Really Shorten a Cold? Dosage and Safety Tips
A.
Zinc can modestly shorten a cold by about 1 to 2 days when started within 24 hours, ideally as zinc acetate or gluconate lozenges totaling 75 to 100 mg elemental zinc per day, divided every 2 to 3 hours while awake for up to 5 to 7 days. It is not a cure. There are several safety and interaction issues to weigh, including nausea and metallic taste, avoiding intranasal sprays due to risk of permanent loss of smell, limiting high doses to short courses to prevent copper deficiency, and checking for interactions with antibiotics and other medicines; see the complete guidance below to understand who should be cautious and how to choose next steps.
References:
* Singh M, Das RR. Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 28;2015(4):CD001364. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001364.pub5. PMID: 25914378.
* Hemilä H, Chalker E. Zinc lozenges and the common cold: a meta-analysis comparing zinc acetate and zinc gluconate and the role of zinc dosage. Br J Nutr. 2017 Jul;118(1):28-36. doi: 10.1017/S000711451700149X. Epub 2017 May 17. PMID: 28514529.
* Rousselle H, Staeheli N, Loundou A, Loundou AD. Zinc in the common cold. Presse Med. 2023 Nov;52(4):104230. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2023.104230. Epub 2023 Sep 20. PMID: 37735398.
* Wack H, Wack G. Zinc for the common cold--an updated review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol. 2021 Dec 29;7(1):171-181. doi: 10.1002/lio2.738. PMID: 34988365; PMCID: PMC8719570.
* Razmpour R, Sholeh M, Abdi T, Shahcheraghi SH, Karimi A, Bahrampour A. Current Evidence of Zinc Status and Zinc Supplementation for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19 and Other Viral Respiratory Infections: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2023 Jun 8;15(12):2659. doi: 10.3390/nu15122659. PMID: 37299064; PMCID: PMC10299951.
Q.
Can’t Shake This Cold? Why Your Body Is Struggling & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
If your cold lingers beyond 7 to 10 days, there are several factors to consider: slow immune recovery from stress or poor sleep, catching a second virus, a common post-viral cough, allergies, or less commonly complications like sinusitis, ear infection, or bronchitis. Medically approved next steps range from supportive care to prompt medical review for red flags like no improvement after 10 days, worsening after initial recovery, high fever, trouble breathing, or a cough lasting more than 3 to 4 weeks; for critical details that could change your next step, including who should seek care sooner and a free symptom check, see below.
References:
* Eccles R. The common cold. Lancet. 2005 Nov 5-11;366(9498):1751-6. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67691-7. PMID: 16298215.
* Turner RB, et al. Risk factors for delayed recovery from the common cold. Clin Infect Dis. 2004 Feb 1;38(3):363-8. doi: 10.1086/381084. PMID: 14767899.
* Chotiprasidhi P, Thongkaew S. Secondary bacterial infections in patients with acute viral respiratory tract infections: clinical aspects and antibiotic use. Future Microbiol. 2022 Sep;17:1189-1199. doi: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0050. Epub 2022 Jul 18. PMID: 35848577.
* Rondanelli M, et al. Treatment of common cold symptoms with a combination of vitamins and minerals: a systemic review. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2018 Jun;22(12):3977-3990. doi: 10.26355/eurrev_201806_15219. PMID: 29968417.
* Allan GM, Arroll B. Immunology of the common cold. Aust Prescr. 2014 Jun;37(3):88-91. doi: 10.18773/austprescr.2014.037. PMID: 27827878.
Q.
Why Won’t It Go Away? The Reality of Upper Respiratory Infections & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider: most upper respiratory infections are viral and improve in 7 to 10 days, though a cough can linger 2 to 3 weeks; if it is not going away it may still be the normal course, a new virus, post-viral inflammation, or a secondary bacterial issue or another condition like allergies, asthma, reflux, COVID, or chronic sinusitis. Start with rest, hydration, saline, and targeted over the counter symptom relief, and seek medical care for severe symptoms or if illness lasts beyond 10 to 14 days, since antibiotics are only used when bacterial infection is suspected. Key timelines, warning signs, and step by step guidance that could change your next move are detailed below.
References:
* Heikkinen, T., Järvinen, A. (2017). The common cold: current insights and opportunities for future control. *The Lancet Infectious Diseases*, 17(8), e274-e282. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28602663/
* Rosenfeld, R. M., et al. (2015). Clinical practice guideline: adult sinusitis. *Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery*, 152(1 Suppl), S1-S39. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26420794/
* Fonseca, J. G., et al. (2018). Symptomatic treatment of common cold: what's the evidence? *Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology*, 84(5), 629-634. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30241857/
* Rhee, H., et al. (2020). Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in adults: the role of non-pharmacological interventions. *European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases*, 39(8), 1461-1473. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32415510/
* Hersh, A. L., & Shapiro, D. J. (2019). Antibiotic stewardship for upper respiratory tract infections. *Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases*, 32(4), 302-308. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31335472/
Q.
Is upper respiratory infection contagious?
A.
Yes, most upper respiratory infections are contagious, spreading through droplets, aerosols, and contaminated hands or surfaces; people are infectious about a day before symptoms, most in the first 3 to 4 days, and sometimes longer in children or immunocompromised individuals. There are several factors to consider, including how long you may shed virus, who is at higher risk, and the best ways to prevent spread and when to seek care. See the complete guidance below to understand these details and choose the right next steps.
References:
Heikkinen T, & Järvinen A. (2003). The common cold. Lancet, 12573857.
Eccles R. (2005). Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Lancet Infect Dis, 16253886.
Tellier R. (2009). Aerosol transmission of influenza A virus: a review of new studies. J R Soc Interface, 18926950.
Q.
What causes upper respiratory infection?
A.
Most upper respiratory infections are caused by viruses such as rhinovirus, seasonal coronaviruses including COVID-19, influenza, RSV, parainfluenza, and adenovirus, which spread via respiratory droplets, close contact, and contaminated surfaces. Less often, bacteria can cause or follow a viral infection, and factors like colder seasons, young or older age, crowded settings, smoking, air pollution, allergies, chronic conditions, and stress increase risk and may affect next steps; see the complete details below.
References:
Zhang D, Guo B, Zhou X, Ge W, & Jiang Z. (2013). Prevalence of respiratory viruses in adults with acute respiratory… J Clin Virol, 23324267.
Heikkinen T, & Järvinen A. (2003). The common cold. The Lancet, 12769890.
Eccles R. (2005). Understanding the symptoms of the common cold and influenza. Clin Microbiol Rev, 19196654.
Q.
What is the fastest way to get rid of a upper respiratory infection?
A.
There is no instant cure, but the fastest way to feel better is to rest, stay well hydrated, use OTC pain and congestion relief, breathe moist air, and start zinc lozenges within 24 hours to shorten symptoms by about 1 to 2 days, with vitamin C offering a small additional benefit. There are important details about safe dosing, side effects, when to seek medical care, and red flag symptoms that could change your next steps; see the complete guidance below.
References:
Hemilä H, & Chalker E. (2013). Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, CD000980. 23440782.
Hemilä H, & Chalker E. (2015). Zinc for the common cold. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, CD001364. 26425681.
Shah SA, Sander S, White CM, Rinaldi M, & Coleman CI. (2007). Evaluation of echinacea for the prevention and treatment… Lancet Infect Dis, 7(7):473–480. 17686120.
Q.
Can you take robitussin while pregnant?
A.
Yes, Robitussin DM with dextromethorphan and guaifenesin is generally considered low risk in pregnancy when taken as directed, especially after the first trimester. There are several factors to consider, including choosing single-ingredient or DM-only products, avoiding phenylephrine, using non-drug options first, correct dosing, and when to seek medical care, so see the complete guidance below to decide your next steps or confirm with your clinician.
References:
Mitchell AA, Gilboa SM, Werler MM. (2011). Medication use during pregnancy, with focus on prescription drugs: results from the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol, 21559597.
Gouin K, Kulozik A, Delaney BF. (2016). Dextromethorphan exposure in early pregnancy and risk of major congenital malformations: a population‐based case–control study. J Clin Pharmacol, 26561907.
de Lédinghen V, Vergniol J. (2014). Liver stiffness measurement predicts first hepatic decompensation in patients with compensated cirrhosis. Journal of Hepatology, 24353371.
Q.
Does robitussin make you sleepy?
A.
Most Robitussin formulas with dextromethorphan and/or guaifenesin are not sedating, but Nighttime or PM versions with diphenhydramine can make you drowsy, and products with pseudoephedrine may even feel stimulating. There are several factors to consider, including age, other sedating medicines, alcohol, dose, and health conditions; see below for which ingredients to choose or avoid, tips to prevent drowsiness, and when to seek medical care.
References:
Paul IM, Beiler JS, King TS, et al. (2007). Effect of dextromethorphan, diphenhydramine, and honey on nocturnal cough and sle… Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 17178931.
D'Amico G, Garcia-Tsao G, Pagliaro L. (2006). Natural history and prognostic indicators of survival in cirrhosis: a sys… Journal of Hepatology, 16226134.
Moore KP, Wong F, Ginès P, et al. (2003). Guideline on the management of ascites in cirrhosis. Gut, 15020358.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Heikkinen T, Järvinen A. The common cold. Lancet. 2003 Jan 4;361(9351):51-9. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)12162-9. PMID: 12517470; PMCID: PMC7112468.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(03)12162-9/fulltextPassioti M, Maggina P, Megremis S, Papadopoulos NG. The common cold: potential for future prevention or cure. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2014 Feb;14(2):413. doi: 10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5. PMID: 24415465; PMCID: PMC7088639.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11882-013-0413-5Mousa HA. Prevention and Treatment of Influenza, Influenza-Like Illness, and Common Cold by Herbal, Complementary, and Natural Therapies. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Jan;22(1):166-174. doi: 10.1177/2156587216641831. Epub 2016 Apr 6. PMID: 27055821; PMCID: PMC5871211.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2156587216641831