How long does a common cold typically last?

How long does a cold last?

Can anything help a cold get better faster?

Here are some tips to feel better:

• Rest a lot. Sleep helps you heal.
• Drink water or juice. This keeps you strong.
• Stay warm. Wear cozy clothes.
• Eat healthy food. It gives you energy.
• Wash your hands. This stops spreading germs.

Helpful tools:

• Use tissues for your nose.
• Try a humidifier to breathe better.
• Use a thermometer to check your temperature.
• Ask an adult for medicine if you have a fever.

If you feel really sick, you should see a doctor.

What happens when you start to get a cold?

When you catch a cold, your body might show some signs. Here are some things to watch out for:

• You might start sneezing a lot.
• Your throat could feel sore or scratchy.
• You might have a runny or stuffy nose.
• You could feel more tired than usual.
• Sometimes, you might even get a mild headache.

To help you feel better, you can:

• Rest: Try to get plenty of sleep.
• Drink: Have lots of water or warm drinks.
• Stay Warm: Keep cozy with a blanket or sweater.

When should I go to the doctor for a cold?

You have a cold when your nose is runny, and you cough and sneeze. Most colds get better in a few days. But sometimes, you need to see a doctor.

See a doctor if:

• You have a fever for more than 3 days.
• Your cough doesn't get better after a week.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You feel worse instead of better.

To feel better, rest a lot, drink water, and ask an adult for help. You can use a timer to remind you when to take medicine.

How can I stop getting a cold?

Can you catch a cold from cold weather?

Can you do exercise if you have a cold?

When you have a cold, you might wonder if it's okay to exercise.

Here are some tips:

• If you only have a runny nose, it's usually okay to do light exercise, like walking.
• If you have a fever or feel very tired, you should rest and not do exercise.
• Listen to your body. If you feel worse after starting to exercise, stop and rest.

If you are not sure, ask a doctor or nurse for advice.

Do antibiotics help when you have a cold?

No, antibiotics do not help with colds. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only kill bacteria.

If you have a cold, try these things to feel better:

• Rest a lot.
• Drink water, soup, or juice.
• Use a warm blanket if you feel cold.
• Avoid smoking or smoky places.

If you need more help, talk to a doctor or a nurse. They can give you advice on what to do.

Do vitamins like C or zinc stop or fix a cold?

Should I stay home if I have a cold?

If you have a cold, it might make you feel sick. When you are sick, it is often best to rest at home. This helps you get better and stops others from getting sick too.

Tell someone who looks after you, like a parent or teacher, how you feel. They can help decide if you should stay home.

Remember, washing hands often and using tissues can help keep colds from spreading.

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

When you feel unwell, it could be a cold or the flu. They have some of the same signs but are different. A cold is usually milder than the flu. The flu can make you feel very sick.

Here are some signs of a cold:

• A runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• A sore throat
• Sometimes a mild cough

Here are some signs of the flu:

• A fever (feeling very hot)
• Body aches (you feel sore all over)
• Feeling very tired
• A dry cough

If you are unsure which one you have, ask a grown-up you trust or a doctor for help. A doctor can help you feel better.

Can you get sick if you go outside with wet hair?

Do you think you can get a cold just because your hair is wet? Let's talk about it.

When you go outside with wet hair, it might feel cold. But, you don't get a cold from having wet hair. Colds come from germs called viruses.

Sometimes, when it's cold outside, you are more likely to catch a cold. This is because people stay indoors more and germs can spread easily.

If you don't want to get sick, wash your hands often and stay away from people who are sick. These are good ways to stay healthy.

Try using picture cards to remember these tips, and ask a grown-up if you have any questions.

How does the cold virus spread?

The cold virus is a tiny germ that makes us sick.

Here is how it spreads:

• When a sick person coughs or sneezes, tiny drops with the virus go into the air.
• If you breathe in those drops, you might get sick too.
• If you touch your nose or mouth with unwashed hands, the virus can enter your body.

Here are some ways to stay healthy:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often.
• Use a tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw it away after.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Stay away from sick people when you can.

What can you do at home to feel better when you have a cold?

Does gargling salt water help when you have a cold?

When you have a cold, your throat can hurt. Some people say gargling salt water can help. Gargling means you put water in your mouth, tip your head back, and make a noise without swallowing. Be careful not to swallow the water!

Here is how you can do it:

• Put a little bit of salt in a glass of warm water. Mix it so the salt dissolves.
• Take a small sip of the salty water.
• Tip your head back. Make a "gaa gaa" sound for a few seconds.
• Spit the water out in the sink. Do not swallow it.

Ask an adult to help you. You can use a timer to gargle for about 10 to 30 seconds. You can repeat this a few times a day if it helps your throat feel better.

If your throat still hurts a lot, tell an adult. They can help you feel better.

How long does a cold last?

Can anything help a cold get better faster?

Here are some tips to feel better:

• Rest a lot. Sleep helps you heal.
• Drink water or juice. This keeps you strong.
• Stay warm. Wear cozy clothes.
• Eat healthy food. It gives you energy.
• Wash your hands. This stops spreading germs.

Helpful tools:

• Use tissues for your nose.
• Try a humidifier to breathe better.
• Use a thermometer to check your temperature.
• Ask an adult for medicine if you have a fever.

If you feel really sick, you should see a doctor.

What happens when you start to get a cold?

When you catch a cold, your body might show some signs. Here are some things to watch out for:

• You might start sneezing a lot.
• Your throat could feel sore or scratchy.
• You might have a runny or stuffy nose.
• You could feel more tired than usual.
• Sometimes, you might even get a mild headache.

To help you feel better, you can:

• Rest: Try to get plenty of sleep.
• Drink: Have lots of water or warm drinks.
• Stay Warm: Keep cozy with a blanket or sweater.

When should I go to the doctor for a cold?

You have a cold when your nose is runny, and you cough and sneeze. Most colds get better in a few days. But sometimes, you need to see a doctor.

See a doctor if:

• You have a fever for more than 3 days.
• Your cough doesn't get better after a week.
• You have trouble breathing.
• You feel worse instead of better.

To feel better, rest a lot, drink water, and ask an adult for help. You can use a timer to remind you when to take medicine.

How can I stop getting a cold?

Can you catch a cold from cold weather?

Can you do exercise if you have a cold?

When you have a cold, you might wonder if it's okay to exercise.

Here are some tips:

• If you only have a runny nose, it's usually okay to do light exercise, like walking.
• If you have a fever or feel very tired, you should rest and not do exercise.
• Listen to your body. If you feel worse after starting to exercise, stop and rest.

If you are not sure, ask a doctor or nurse for advice.

Do antibiotics help when you have a cold?

No, antibiotics do not help with colds. Colds are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only kill bacteria.

If you have a cold, try these things to feel better:

• Rest a lot.
• Drink water, soup, or juice.
• Use a warm blanket if you feel cold.
• Avoid smoking or smoky places.

If you need more help, talk to a doctor or a nurse. They can give you advice on what to do.

Do vitamins like C or zinc stop or fix a cold?

Should I stay home if I have a cold?

If you have a cold, it might make you feel sick. When you are sick, it is often best to rest at home. This helps you get better and stops others from getting sick too.

Tell someone who looks after you, like a parent or teacher, how you feel. They can help decide if you should stay home.

Remember, washing hands often and using tissues can help keep colds from spreading.

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

When you feel unwell, it could be a cold or the flu. They have some of the same signs but are different. A cold is usually milder than the flu. The flu can make you feel very sick.

Here are some signs of a cold:

• A runny or stuffy nose
• Sneezing
• A sore throat
• Sometimes a mild cough

Here are some signs of the flu:

• A fever (feeling very hot)
• Body aches (you feel sore all over)
• Feeling very tired
• A dry cough

If you are unsure which one you have, ask a grown-up you trust or a doctor for help. A doctor can help you feel better.

Can you get sick if you go outside with wet hair?

Do you think you can get a cold just because your hair is wet? Let's talk about it.

When you go outside with wet hair, it might feel cold. But, you don't get a cold from having wet hair. Colds come from germs called viruses.

Sometimes, when it's cold outside, you are more likely to catch a cold. This is because people stay indoors more and germs can spread easily.

If you don't want to get sick, wash your hands often and stay away from people who are sick. These are good ways to stay healthy.

Try using picture cards to remember these tips, and ask a grown-up if you have any questions.

How does the cold virus spread?

The cold virus is a tiny germ that makes us sick.

Here is how it spreads:

• When a sick person coughs or sneezes, tiny drops with the virus go into the air.
• If you breathe in those drops, you might get sick too.
• If you touch your nose or mouth with unwashed hands, the virus can enter your body.

Here are some ways to stay healthy:

• Wash your hands with soap and water often.
• Use a tissue when you sneeze or cough and throw it away after.
• Keep your hands away from your face.
• Stay away from sick people when you can.

What can you do at home to feel better when you have a cold?

Does gargling salt water help when you have a cold?

When you have a cold, your throat can hurt. Some people say gargling salt water can help. Gargling means you put water in your mouth, tip your head back, and make a noise without swallowing. Be careful not to swallow the water!

Here is how you can do it:

• Put a little bit of salt in a glass of warm water. Mix it so the salt dissolves.
• Take a small sip of the salty water.
• Tip your head back. Make a "gaa gaa" sound for a few seconds.
• Spit the water out in the sink. Do not swallow it.

Ask an adult to help you. You can use a timer to gargle for about 10 to 30 seconds. You can repeat this a few times a day if it helps your throat feel better.

If your throat still hurts a lot, tell an adult. They can help you feel better.