Most cases of the common cold will go away on their own in one to two weeks, though sometimes symptoms such as a cough can linger longer. But if you've been sick for ten days or more and aren't getting better, or are feeling worse, it's time to rethink your approach.
Go over the checklist -- have you really been following doctor's orders? Typically, when people complain that a cold won't go away, it turns out they've been trying to "power through" it and haven't given their bodies a chance to heal, experts say. Go over the list of treatment options listed above and ask yourself if you've been doing all you can. Rest and fluids are the most important -- have you been getting at least eight hours of sleep a night and drinking plenty of water, juice, or tea with honey?
Take steps to relieve a cough. The symptom most likely to persist for weeks is a cough. And any time the lungs are involved, it's important to take steps to avoid bronchitis or pneumonia.
The best way to get a cough to clear up: Take care of it. Gargle with salt water and drink lots of herb tea or hot water with honey, which has an antibacterial and soothing effect. (One study found honey to be more effective than cough syrup.) If a cough is preventing you from sleeping, try using over-the-counter cough syrup, though experts are divided over whether they work. Read labels and choose one with dextromethorphan, which at least some studies have found effective. Dextromethorphan actually works in the brain, rather than having a physical effect on the lungs or throat. It raises the threshold at which you feel like coughing, breaking the cycle of repeated coughing fits to give your lungs and throat a break. And that gives you a chance to sleep, so your body can heal itself.
Watch for a sinus infection. If a stuffy nose and congestion persists, you could be getting a sinus infection. That happens when mucus gets trapped in your nasal passages and is unable to drain for a period of time, becoming a safe harbor for bacteria. Sinus infections can be difficult to diagnose, particularly in the early stages before a full-blown infection develops. Be sure, then, to keep your nasal passages well irrigated with saline spray to help avoid an infection in the first place. And keep a lookout for these telltale signs of infection:
Facial pain, particularly behind the forehead, cheeks, nose, or between the eyes
Headache
Persistent fever
Nasal discharge that's green or dark yellow in color
If you suspect a sinus infection, call your doctor. This is one of the rare instances in which you'll probably need antibiotics.
Be on alert for breathing problems. In a small minority of cases, a cold or flu may lead to pneumonia. And if you suffer from asthma, a cold can trigger an asthma attack when the air passages in your lungs overreact to infection by the cold virus. Asthma can be treated with an inhaler or other medication. Pneumonia can be viral or bacterial, so antibiotics may or may not be the treatment of choice.
But if you suspect pneumonia, be sure to see a doctor to get it checked out. Symptoms to watch for include:
Fast, shallow breathing -- the feeling of not being able to draw a deep breath
Difficulty breathing, as though you can't get enough air
Coughing or wheezing that won't stop
Mental confusion
Severe vomiting
Signs of dehydration, such as dizziness when standing or decreased urination (or decreased tears, in an infant)
Blue or purple discoloration around the mouth
Mental confusion that wasn't present before the illness
Convulsions or seizures
In these days of H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, it's best to take seriously any illness that won't go away. If you're getting worse instead of better, or are still concerned about symptoms after two weeks, call your doctor.
