The symptoms of the common cold usually disappear after 7 to 10 days, but it is not unusual for symptoms such as cough and congestion to continue for up to several weeks after infection. A good night’s sleep and drinking plenty of fluids may sometimes be enough to get rid of the cold, but it may not be enough and the suffering continues until Spring is coming, what is the secret behind it? And when should you worry?
Reasons why colds last longer than usual
There are a number of reasons why people may have their cold symptoms last longer this winter:
- This is only the fifth winter after the quarantine and closures caused by the spread of the Corona virus. General physician Sumaya Aziz points out to the British newspaper The Telegraph that the effects of quarantine may affect our susceptibility to colds. She explains this by saying: “Limited exposure to viruses during lockdowns may have weakened our immune defenses, reducing the level of remaining immunity we have and making us more susceptible.” for a current viral infection.
- Some cold viruses tend to reach the lower lung areas, which may cause bronchitis rather than just nose and throat inflammation. “These infections last longer than others because damaged cells take longer to repair,” says Professor Ian Jones, professor of virology at the University of Reading in the UK. “A lot of that has to do with what the infection was specifically.”
- While rhinoviruses are usually responsible for the common cold, seasonal types of coronaviruses may be responsible for coughs and fever, in addition to Respiratory Syncytial Virus, which causes cold-like symptoms in most people and can To continue for up to two weeks.
- Dr. Sumaya explained that there are also lifestyle factors that can suppress the immune system and make us more susceptible to colds, such as stress, lack of sleep, and poor nutrition.
When should you go to the doctor?
Dr. Sumaya advises consulting a doctor if there is a high fever (above 39 degrees Celsius), or a low fever for several days in a row.
Dr. Sumaya pointed out other reasons for which a doctor should be consulted, such as severe sinus pain, earache, swollen glands, shortness of breath or wheezing.
Professor Jones adds that you should see your GP if your cold lasts for an unjustifiably long time, that is, your symptoms have not improved at all for 10 days, especially if you have a fever that has not gone down.