Usually, a person who has a cold won't have any signs or symptoms for the first 2 to 3 days. Once the symptoms start, they gradually worsen over the next 10 days, sometimes they will get better sooner. 

• Sneezing 
• Runny nose (clear, yellow or greenish color)  
• Scratchy or sore throat 
• Mild cough 
• General feeling of being unwell 
• Muscle aches 
• Loss of appetite 

Uncommon symptoms include: 

• Fever (38.3°C–38.9°C) 
• Headaches 

Complications may prolong the disease. Colds often trigger flare-ups of lung diseases. Some people develop bacterial infections of the middle ear (otitis media) or sinuses (sinusitis). These infections develop because congestion in the nose blocks the normal drainage of those areas, allowing bacteria to grow.