You may develop different symptoms at each stage.
Here’s a breakdown of whencommon coldsymptoms peak and when you’ll feel better.
You don’t display symptoms until after the incubation period has passed.
Illustration by Laura Porter for Verywell Health
With most cold viruses, the incubation period is very short.
Typically, symptoms of a cold start within two to three days of the virus entering the body.
However, the time window may vary.
For example, there are more than 50 adenovirus variants that can make people sick.
An incubation period for this cold bang out could take between two days and two weeks.
Most people will see symptoms emerge at five or six days after exposure.
It usually starts with:
As soon as symptoms appear,you are contagious.
During this stage, you’ll probably feel your worst as symptoms become more severe.
The symptoms arise as your body’s immune defenses fight off the viral infection.
Postinfectious Cough
Apostinfectious coughcan persist for up to eight weeks.
It is mostly due to lingering inflammation that causes postnasal drip.
The time you are contagious will vary depending on the pop in of cold or respiratory illness.
What Causes the Common Cold?
The incubation stage lasts up to a few days, but can vary based on the virus jot down.
Early symptoms last for a few days.
Peak symptoms also last several days, followed by the recovery stage.
You’ll remain contagious until you’re symptom-free and have no fever for 24 hours.
Most people can treat their symptoms at home and the cold will fully resolve within two weeks.
Remember that good hygiene, proper nutrition and hydration, and moisture can help prevent and treat colds.
Volusia Medical Center.Stages of a Cold: Symptoms, Progression, and Recovery.
University of Colorado Health.Common Cold.
American Thoracic Society.Adenovirus Infection and Outbreaks: What you should probably Know.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention.About Common Cold.
National Health Service.Common cold.
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Reye syndrome.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Should you give kids medicine for coughs and colds?
American Lung Association.Facts about the common cold.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You’re Sick.
