Cough and Cold

Clinical answers to the most common patient questions about Cough and Cold.

What is Cough and Cold?

Cough and cold describes a common, usually viral infection of the nose and throat. It typically brings a runny nose, sore throat, sneezing and a cough, and settles on its own in about a week to ten days. Antibiotics do not help, because the cause is almost always a virus.

What are the symptoms of Cough and Cold?

Common symptoms of Cough and Cold include runny or blocked nose, sneezing, sore or scratchy throat, cough, dry or productive, mild headache, low-grade fever, tiredness and reduced sense of taste or smell.

What causes Cough and Cold?

Cough and Cold is commonly caused by rhinovirus, coronaviruses causing common colds, respiratory syncytial virus, influenza and parainfluenza viruses, adenovirus, close contact with an infected person and touching contaminated surfaces then the face.

Who is most at risk of Cough and Cold?

Risk factors for Cough and Cold include season and close indoor contact, young children and those caring for them, crowded living or working conditions, weakened immune system, smoking or exposure to smoke and poor sleep and high stress.

How is Cough and Cold diagnosed?

Cough and Cold is usually diagnosed using clinical history and examination, usually no testing required, throat swab where bacterial tonsillitis is suspected, chest examination or X-ray if a chest infection is suspected and viral testing where influenza or COVID-19 is suspected.

How is Cough and Cold treated?

Treatment for Cough and Cold typically involves rest and adequate fluids, steam inhalation and saline nasal rinse, warm fluids and honey for throat comfort in those over one year, symptom-relief medication under pharmacist or medical guidance and antibiotics only if a bacterial complication is confirmed.

Can Cough and Cold be prevented?

Regular hand washing, covering coughs and sneezes, avoiding close contact while infectious, and annual influenza vaccination for those advised to have it.

When should someone see a doctor about Cough and Cold?

Seek medical advice about Cough and Cold if you experience difficulty breathing or breathlessness at rest, chest pain, coughing up blood, fever above 39°C persisting beyond three days, symptoms clearly worsening after an initial improvement, cough lasting more than three weeks and drowsiness or confusion.

What is the outlook for Cough and Cold?

Most colds resolve within seven to ten days without treatment. A cough can reasonably linger for two to three weeks afterwards. Symptoms that worsen after initially improving suggest a complication and should be assessed.