9 Warning Signs Your Cold Is Getting Worse

A cold can cause mild symptoms like a stuffy nose, cough, sneezing, and lack of energy. Most people start to feel better in about 7 to 10 days, and the cough lasts longer. But if you notice new symptoms or your condition doesn’t improve as expected, it could mean your cold is getting worse.

Here is 9 warning signs your cold is getting worse:

You might have a mild fever (usually below 100.4 degrees Farenehit for adults) during the first few days of a cold. But if your temperature is very high or the fever lasts more than four days and you don’t respond to medications like Motrin (ibuprofen), it could mean something else is going on. A high or persistent fever may be a sign of another type of infection, such as strep throat or pneumonia.

If your fever is high or lasts longer than expected, seek medical attention. They can perform tests to determine the cause and recommend appropriate treatment.

Cold symptoms tend to peak around the third or fourth day and then slowly improve. If you start to feel better and your symptoms suddenly return, including more coughing, congestion or fatigue, it could mean that you have developed another infection, such as sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infection or bronchitis. This may happen because your immune system was already weakened from fighting the cold, allowing other microbes to cause a new infection.

If your symptoms worsen after initial improvement, a doctor can evaluate whether you need medications, such as antibiotics, to treat a bacterial infection. However, most colds and sinus infections are caused by viruses.

Pain or pressure around the cheeks, forehead, or eyes is a classic sign of sinusitis. This infection occurs when mucus builds up and your sinuses become inflamed, often after a cold.

Contact your doctor if the pain or pressure:

• Is strong
• Lasts more than 10 to 14 days
• Is accompanied by thick yellow or green mucus
• The condition improves in the first days after a cold, then returns or worsens

You may feel mild chest discomfort when coughing when you have a cold. But chest pain, pressure, or tightness are not typical of a cold. These symptoms could mean that the main passages that carry air to your lungs are inflamed or that it is a serious illness that requires immediate medical attention.

Call your doctor or consult a doctor immediately if you:

• have severe chest pain
• Are sweaty
• Feel dizzy
• Wheeze

A cold shouldn’t leave you out of breath. If catching your breath suddenly seems more difficult than usual, don’t ignore it. This could mean your lungs aren’t getting enough air, which can happen if a cold has progressed to bronchitis or pneumonia. Shortness of breath associated with a cold can also mean that the illness has triggered an asthma flare-up.

See a doctor immediately if you:

• have difficulty breathing
• I can’t say complete sentences without panting
• Notice your lips or fingers turning pale or bluish

At the start of a cold, your mucus may be clear or slightly cloudy. When it becomes thick, yellow or green and stays that way for several days, it suggests that another viral or bacterial infection may be developing.

The color of the mucus alone does not always mean an infection. But you should see a doctor if you also have:

• Fever
• Facial pain
• Worsening traffic jams

A feeling of fullness in your ears, pain, or muffled hearing often means fluid has built up behind your eardrum. This is a common complication when congestion blocks your ear canals, which can turn into an ear infection.

Ear infections can get worse quickly and damage your hearing if left untreated. Contact a doctor if you have:

• Acute pain
• Constant pain
• Fever
• Ear drainage

Headaches may occur if you are congested from a cold. But strong or persistent headaches, especially those that get worse when you lean forward or move quickly, can be a sign of conditions like dehydration or a sinus infection. Some people also feel pressure behind their eyes, which may be a sign of a sinus problem.

When rest, fluids, or over-the-counter medications don’t help, tell your doctor to make sure there isn’t another infection or health problem causing the headache.

The scratchy, scratchy sore throat you typically experience with a cold should begin to subside after a few days and should not make swallowing painful. Sharp pain when swallowing, white spots, or swelling in the throat may indicate strep throat or another infection.

You should see a doctor if your throat pain:

• Is serious
• Lasts more than a few days
• Makes it difficult to eat or drink

Most colds go away on their own. Sometimes the virus can make you more likely to develop other infections, which can be mild or severe, depending on your overall health and how your body responds. Complications that can develop if a cold does not improve as expected include:

• Sinus infection
• Ear infection
• Bronchitis
• Pneumonia
• Strep throat
• Worsening of chronic conditions, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or heart failure
• Infections with influenza, COVID-19 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)

You should contact a doctor if:

• Your fever is high and/or persistent, even after taking fever medication
• Your symptoms get worse after you start to improve
• Your symptoms last more than 10 days without improving
• Swallowing becomes painful

You should get immediate care if you:

• Spit blood
• Feeling confused
• have severe chest pain
• Notice your lips or fingertips turning bluish

Delaying treatment can make infections such as pneumonia or sinusitis worse, potentially leading to more serious complications. For anyone with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or a weakened immune system, a mild cold can become serious, so it’s best to see a doctor as soon as possible.

If you currently have a cold, here’s how to stay on top of your health and avoid complications:

• Track your symptoms: Write down when they started and how they changed so you can discuss them with your doctor if necessary.
• Follow home care: Continue to rest, stay hydrated, and use over-the-counter medications as directed.
• Consider testing for other infections: If you have a high fever, body aches, or recent exposure to the flu or COVID-19, get tested. Your treatment plan may be different depending on the results.
• Be prepared to contact your doctor: Have your notes about symptoms, medications, allergies, and health concerns ready when you talk with your provider.

And remember, to prevent the next cold, you need to wash your hands regularly or use hand sanitizer, avoid touching your face, avoid sick people, and strengthen your immune system.