Generally, a cold tends to progress through a number of stages. Each stage may last 3 days or more with the average cold lasting 7-10 days. The length of the condition or each stage of the condition is impossible to quantify as it depends on the exact virus, and over 120 viruses are known to cause the common cold.
Other factors that may affect the duration of symptoms are the level of immunity, fitness and general state of health of the individual.
The typical progression of a cold is more common in children than in adults, who may not develop the Stage 2 productive cough.
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STAGE 1 |
STAGE 2 |
STAGE 3 |
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Upper Respiratory Tract |
Lower Respiratory Tract |
Upper Respiratory Tract |
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Common Symptoms |
Nasal congestion, headache, slight cough
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Productive phlegm, consistent, congested chest cough, nasal congestion and runny nose |
Dry hacking, raspy, unproductive cough
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Other Possible Symptoms |
Muscular aches & pain, sore throat, watery eyes, fever
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Muscular aches & pains, headache |
Headache, runny nose, wheezing, nasal congestion
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Average Length |
1-5 days
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1-4 days
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1-4 days
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