Cold Remedies That Help, How Long a Cold Lasts, and When It's Something More
Most colds last 7 to 10 days. Here's what actually helps a cough, sore throat and stuffy nose, what's not safe for young kids, and the signs a cold has turned into something else.
A common cold usually lasts 7 to 10 days: a sore throat for the first day or two, then a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing and a cough, with the cough sometimes hanging on for two to three weeks. There's no cure, but rest, fluids, honey for a cough, saline for a stuffy nose, and pain relievers make it easier. Cough and cold medicines aren't safe for children under 4. A cold that gets worse after a week, or comes with a high fever or trouble breathing, may be something more.
How a cold usually goes
- Days 1 to 2: scratchy or sore throat, tiredness
- Days 2 to 4: runny nose, sneezing, congestion, sometimes a low fever
- Days 4 to 7: congestion and cough at their worst; mucus may turn thick, yellow or green, which is normal
- Days 7 to 10: improving
- Up to 3 weeks: a lingering cough is common
What helps
- Rest and fluids, including warm drinks and soup
- Honey for a cough, a teaspoon at bedtime, for anyone over 1 year old. It works about as well as cough medicine for children.
- Salt-water gargles and lozenges for a sore throat (no lozenges for young children, who can choke)
- Saline spray or rinses and a humidifier for a stuffy nose, especially in Denver's dry air
- Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for sore throat, aches and fever
- Decongestants or antihistamines for adults, short-term, if they're safe for you
- Extra pillows to raise your head at night
Antibiotics don't work on colds, and taking them when you don't need them can cause side effects.
Medicines and kids
- Under 4: don't give over-the-counter cough and cold medicines
- Under 1: no honey
- Under 6 months: no ibuprofen
- Any child or teen: no aspirin
- Check labels for acetaminophen in combination products so you don't double up
Cold, flu, COVID or something else?
Flu and COVID come on faster, with more fever and body aches. Our post on flu, COVID or RSV explains how a rapid test helps. Allergies cause itching and no fever; see our hay fever post. A cold can lead to a sinus infection, ear infection or bronchitis.
When to get seen
Come in if symptoms last more than 10 days or get better and then worse, if you have a fever over 102°F or a fever lasting more than three days, ear pain, facial pain, or a cough that's getting worse, or if you have asthma or another lung condition and your breathing is affected. At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, a visit with a rapid test is $250, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. A telehealth visit is $75. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See our cold and flu page and the cost and insurance page.
Call 911 or go to the ER if you or your child has trouble breathing, fast breathing with the skin pulling in at the ribs, lips or face turning blue or gray, chest pain, confusion, signs of dehydration, or a baby under 3 months has a fever of 100.4°F or higher.
Where to find us
Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:
- Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
- Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM
Walk in, or book online.
Medically reviewed by Peter Martinuzzi, MD
This article is general health information, not medical advice for your situation. If you are worried, come in or book a telehealth visit — and if it is an emergency, call 911.