How fast can you get a cold

Q: Can you get a cold in 24 hours?

Incubation: After youre exposed to a cold virus, it typically takes 1 to 3 days for you to develop symptoms. However, its possible to develop symptoms as soon as 10 to 12 hours after exposure. Symptoms peak: Cold symptoms peak at 1 to 3 days.

Q: Can you get a cold suddenly?

If you tend to get colds that start suddenly and happen at the same time every year, its possible that you actually have seasonal allergies. Although colds and seasonal allergies may share some of the same symptoms, they are very different diseases. Common colds are caused by viruses.

At the first sign of a cold or flu, you may wonder how it happened -- especially if you've taken steps to avoid germs. Here's exactly how you get sick, and what you need to know to protect yourself next time.

Table of Contents Show

Check if you have a cold
How you can treat a cold yourself
A pharmacist can help with cold medicines
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
Antibiotics
How to avoid spreading a cold
How to prevent catching a cold
How quickly do you get a cold?
Can you get a cold in 24 hours?
Can you get a cold suddenly?
How long does it take to catch a cold from another person?

Viruses spread through tiny droplets in the air that are released when a sick person sneezes, coughs, or blows their nose.
You can get sick if you touch your nose, eyes, or mouth after you have touched something contaminated by the virus, such as a toy, countertop, or doorknob. Viruses can live on those objects for up to 2 days.
If you come in contact with cold or flu germs, your chance of getting sick isn’t 100%. It depends on when the other person was infected, and how many viral particles are contained in the droplets.
People are most contagious during the first 2 to 3 days of a cold. A cold is most often not contagious after the first week.
People who have the flu may pass it on to others 1 day before symptoms start and up to 5 to 7 days after getting sick, so they may spread the flu before they even know they are sick.

Show Sources

Charles Gerba, PhD, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

CDC.

National Institutes of Health.

You can often treat a cold without seeing a GP. You should begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks.

Check if you have a cold

Cold symptoms come on gradually and can include:

a blocked or runny nose
a sore throat
headaches
muscle aches
coughs
sneezing
a raised temperature
pressure in your ears and face
loss of taste and smell

The symptoms are the same in adults and children. Sometimes symptoms last longer in children.

Telling the difference between cold and flu

Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but flu tends to be more severe.

Difference between cold and fluColdFluAppears graduallyAppears quickly within a few hoursAffects mainly your nose and throatAffects more than just your nose and throatMakes you feel unwell, but you're OK to carry on as normal (for example, go to work)Makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal

How you can treat a cold yourself

To help you get better more quickly:

rest and sleep
drink plenty of water (fruit juice or squash mixed with water is OK) to avoid dehydration
gargle salt water to soothe a sore throat (not suitable for children)

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

A pharmacist can help with cold medicines

You can buy cough and cold medicines from pharmacies or supermarkets. A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine.

You can:

ease aches or lower a temperature with painkillers like paracetamol or ibuprofen
relieve a blocked nose with decongestant sprays or tablets

Decongestants should not be given to children under 6. Children aged 6 to 12 should take them for no longer than 5 days.

Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you're taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets. Cough and cold medicines often also contain paracetamol and ibuprofen so it can be easy to take more than the recommended dose.

Some are not suitable for children, babies and pregnant women.

There's little evidence that supplements (such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic) prevent colds or speed up recovery.

Find a pharmacy

Information:

Call a pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks
your symptoms get suddenly worse
your temperature is very high or you feel hot and shivery
you're concerned about your child's symptoms
you're feeling short of breath or develop chest pain
you have a long-term medical condition – for example, diabetes, or a heart, lung or kidney condition
you have a weakened immune system – for example, because you're having chemotherapy

Antibiotics

GPs do not recommend antibiotics for colds because they will not relieve your symptoms or speed up your recovery.

Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, and colds are caused by viruses.

How to avoid spreading a cold

Colds are caused by viruses and easily spread to other people. You're infectious until all your symptoms have gone. This usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.

Colds are spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.

To reduce the risk of spreading a cold:

wash your hands often with warm water and soap
use tissues to trap germs when you cough or sneeze
bin used tissues as quickly as possible

How to prevent catching a cold

A person with a cold can start spreading it from a few days before their symptoms begin until the symptoms have finished.

How quickly do you get a cold?

Symptoms of a common cold usually appear one to three days after exposure to a cold-causing virus. Signs and symptoms, which can vary from person to person, might include: Runny or stuffy nose. Sore throat.

Can you get a cold in 24 hours?

Incubation: After you're exposed to a cold virus, it typically takes 1 to 3 days for you to develop symptoms. However, it's possible to develop symptoms as soon as 10 to 12 hours after exposure. Symptoms peak: Cold symptoms peak at 1 to 3 days.

Can you get a cold suddenly?

If you tend to get "colds" that start suddenly and happen at the same time every year, it's possible that you actually have seasonal allergies. Although colds and seasonal allergies may share some of the same symptoms, they are very different diseases. Common colds are caused by viruses.

How long does it take to catch a cold from another person?

Once you catch a cold from someone else, it can take two or three days before you begin to feel symptoms. If someone you know has a cold, try to avoid or limit contact with them. You are most likely to catch a cold from them in the first few days that they are sick. That's according to the American Lung Association.