Getting sick is never fun, especially when your symptoms just start to appear. It always seems to be a waiting game to see if your symptoms will stay mild or progress into something more serious!

During the fall and winter seasons, common colds are all around us. It is the most common illness that is circulating in the United States at this time!

Even though they are so prevalent, it is still important to distinguish cold symptoms from another potential diagnosis. Read on as our AFC Urgent Care Clemson team takes us through the details regarding a common cold below.

What Makes Up a Cold?

When you come down with a cold, you are actually experiencing a viral infection inside your nose or throat! Many different variations of viruses can cause cold symptoms. If you have two to three colds a year, each one may be caused by a different coronavirus!

The good news is that most colds are just annoying. They typically don’t produce severe symptoms or require an office visit and they will resolve within 10 days on their own. The symptoms outlined below are classic signs of a cold.

Most Common Cold Symptoms

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Mild headache/body aches

How Can I Tell If It’s More Than a Cold?

A typical cold will follow the same pattern and trajectory. A gradual emergence of symptoms, a peak after a few days, and then slowly fading away. If your symptoms are still strong or getting worse after two weeks, that may warrant an office visit to seek an alternative diagnosis.

Another potential sign of a different illness is if you have a persistent fever. It is not a typical symptom in adults (it can be in children, though) during a simple cold, so if you have a fever that just won’t quit, a different illness may be to blame!

Alternate Diagnoses With Similar Symptoms

• COVID-19
• Allergies
• Pneumonia
• Influenza

Feeling unwell is never fun! If you are concerned about any worsening or lingering symptoms from your recent illness, come see us at AFC Urgent Care Clemson today.