Symptoms are signs of illness that can be caused by many things. They may include a runny nose, nasal congestion, a cough, body aches, sore throat, fever, headache, tiredness and loss of appetite. Some symptoms may be mild and go away on their own, but others will need treatment. It is important to get checked out by a healthcare professional because they can help you feel better faster.

Some symptom combinations may indicate a more serious illness than a cold. For example, a sore throat and fever can be a sign of tonsillitis or pneumonia. If you have a nagging cough and you see blood in the mucus, it may be a sign of bronchitis or lung disease. A fever with a sore throat can also be an indication of strep throat or meningitis.

A cold is usually a mild infection that can be treated at home. However, it is a good idea to visit your doctor if you have a high fever or a severe sore throat.

Viruses that cause colds spread by person-to-person contact. They can also spread by breathing in virus particles from someone who coughs or sneezes, or touching the eyes, mouth or nose after touching something that has respiratory viruses on it. Washing your hands often and using alcohol-based hand sanitizer can help prevent the spread of germs. People who have a cold are most contagious for the first 3 or 4 days of symptoms and then become less so.