For years, doctors have told patients, "a cold last seven days if you take medication, and a week if you don't." This may have to be revised. At least for the colds Welsh children catch.
In this study, parents waited an average of three days before bringing their sick children to the doctor. Four days later (seven days of illness), nearly 60% of the children still had cold symptoms. By the tenth day after the beginning of the cold symptoms, slightly more than a quarter of the children still had significant symptoms. Two weeks after the first doctor's visit (day 17 of the illness), 6% still hadn't completely recovered.
If your child's cold seems to hang on longer than you think it should, remember that the normal recuperation time is really a lot longer than most parents and doctors think.
British Medical Journal, 11/8/03.
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