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Common Cold

What is the common cold? 

Many different viruses can cause the upper respiratory illness known as the common cold, but the most common are rhinoviruses. Colds can occur at any time in the year, but are typically more common in the winter and spring. In general, people recover from a cold in about 7 to 10 days. However, people with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems can develop more serious illnesses like bronchitis or pneumonia. 

Signs and symptoms

  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Sneezing
  • Coughing
  • Sore or scratchy throat
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches

Incubation period

1 - 14 Days

Contagious period and spread

The common cold spreads through contact with droplets (produced by coughing and sneezing) and infectious discharges from a person with infection. Contact with hands, tissues, and other articles contaminated with nose/throat discharges of people who are ill can spread the virus. 

People are usually contagious a few days before symptoms appear and while symptoms are present.

Public health reporting requirements

  • Report the infection to the facility director, school nurse, or child care health consultant. Discuss child health concerns with the school nurse or child care health consultant. Consultation with the state or local public health agency is also available.
  • If the child develops more severe symptoms or experiences ongoing symptoms, refer them to a health care provider to be checked for secondary complications. 
  • *If two or more children have common cold symptoms and/or received this diagnosis from a health care provider, this may be considered a suspect or confirmed outbreak and should be reported to state or local public health.
  • More information on reportability of respiratory illnesses in schools and child care are on CDPHE’s website under the link titled “Guidance for Prevention and Control of Viral Respiratory Illnesses in School and Childcare Settings.”

Control of spread

  • Encourage frequent handwashing and proper hand-hygiene techniques.
  • Teach children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or upper arm sleeve when they cough and sneeze, and to throw away the tissue after they use it.
  • Properly dispose of articles soiled with nose/throat discharges, such as tissues.
  • Clean potentially contaminated surfaces, like doorknobs, tables, handrails, etc. (Disease Prevention: The Facility Environment)
  • Avoid sharing cups and eating utensils and touching the face with unwashed hands. 
  • Stay home when sick.
  • People with respiratory symptoms should not interact with people at high risk for severe disease. 

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for the common cold. Check with the child’s health care provider before giving symptom relieving medications like cough suppressants and decongestants. Do not give aspirin or other salicylate-containing products (such as Pepto Bismol®) as this increases the risk of Reye syndrome, a rare but very serious complication. Use acetaminophen or ibuprofen to safely relieve discomfort due to illness. Antibiotics should not be used for viral infections such as the common cold.

Exclusion

  • Exclusion for the common cold may not be necessary. However, consider SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza as causes of illness. If a student or child has symptoms of respiratory illness, schools and child care centers should defer to the guidance and exclusion criteria for respiratory illness symptoms. 
  • Students, children, and staff with symptoms of respiratory illness should stay home until they are fever free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications (fever defined as a temperature of ≥100.4oF) and all other symptoms of respiratory illness, including cough, are resolved or improved for at least 24 hours. 
  • Separate children and students who are ill from others until they can be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Additional precautions are recommended for at least five days following the return of anyone recovering from respiratory symptoms, including hand and respiratory hygiene, improved ventilation, masking, physical distancing, and testing. 

Additional exclusion criteria are listed in a previous section: Exclusion Guidelines for Children and Staff. 

Role of teachers, caregivers, and family

  • Practice good hand hygiene at all times.
  • Teach children to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue or upper arm sleeve when they cough and sneeze, and to throw away the tissue after they use it.
  • Properly dispose of articles soiled with nose/throat discharges, such as tissues.

Resources