MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Cold remedies

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Cold remedies

Sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, fever, chills, and muscle aches are all symptoms associated with the common cold. Over the counter medicines for a cold only alleviate cold symptoms but do not shorten the duration of a cold. The symptoms of a common cold should go away in a week to 10 days. As always, drinking plenty of fluids and rest are most important for recovery from a cold.

Update Date: 1/18/2007

Updated by: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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