More than 100 different viruses can trigger a common cold that affects your nose and throat, notes MayoClinic.com. Cold germs can infiltrate when you touch your nose, mouth or eyes after contacting someone's cold germs via an object they've touched or after they cough or sneeze. Although medication won't cure a cold, MayoClinic.com recommends consulting your physician if your illness doesn't get better in two weeks or if you develop symptoms beyond the typical discomforts.
Sore Throat
The irritation of a sore throat can range from a ticking feeling to a dry, scratching sensation to a sharp pain when you swallow. The Ohio State University Medical Center notes that a sore throat is caused by the virus irritating the membranes in the lining of your throat. The Center recommends gargling with warm salt water to soothe throat inflammation.
Sneezing
Sneezing, along with a scratchy throat, may be a tell-tale sign that you've caught a cold, according to the McKinley Health Center of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Center notes that your cold may fully develop approximately 48 hours after you experience the initial symptoms.
Runny Nose
When you have a cold, your body produces mucus to help flush the virus from your sinuses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Although the mucus is clear at the beginning of the illness, the CDC notes that it may change to white, yellow or green as your body fights the cold, and stresses that the changing color is no cause for alarm.
Cough
You may develop a cough because of your throat irritation or post-nasal drip as the mucus generated to fight the virus drips down the back of your throat. MayoClinic.com stresses that you should see a doctor if your cough is producing colored phlegm and you're also experiencing a fever, chills and sweating.
Congestion
As your cold progresses, a runny nose may turn into nasal congestion. The University of Rochester's University Health Service notes that the stuffy feeling in your nose and head may be your body's way of fighting viral infections. Although congestion is a normal common cold symptom, the university suggests seeing a doctor if your sinuses feel painful or if the stuffiness doesn't go away in two or three weeks.
Headache and Body Aches
A minor headache or body aches may accompany your cold. MayoClinic.com notes that you should consult a doctor if the cold generates a severe headache, pain in the ear or a stiff neck, particularly in children. Body aches accompanied by a fever of more than 103 degrees F in adults or children over 2, a fever of 102 degrees F in children between 6 weeks and 2 years, or a fever of 100 degrees F in babies up to 6 weeks should also be treated by a physician.
