Find out what's effective — and what's not. Cold remedies are almost as common as the common cold, but are they effective? Nothing can cure a cold. But some remedies might help ease your symptoms and keep you from feeling so miserable.

Here's a look at some common cold remedies and what's known about them. If you catch a cold, you can expect to be sick for one to two weeks. That doesn't mean you have to be miserable. These remedies might help you feel better:. Soothe a sore throat. Children younger than 6 years are unlikely to be able to gargle properly. You can also try ice chips, sore throat sprays, lozenges or hard candy.

Use caution when giving lozenges or hard candy to children because they can choke on them. Don't give lozenges or hard candy to children younger than 6 years. Combat stuffiness. Over-the-counter saline nasal drops and sprays can help relieve stuffiness and congestion. In infants, experts recommend putting several saline drops into one nostril, then gently suctioning that nostril with a bulb syringe. Saline nasal sprays may be used in older children. Relieve pain. For children 6 months or younger, give only acetaminophen.

For children older than 6 months, give either acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ask your child's doctor for the correct dose for your child's age and weight. Use caution when giving aspirin to children or teenagers. Though aspirin is approved for use in children older than age 3, children and teenagers recovering from chickenpox or flu-like symptoms should never take aspirin. This is because aspirin has been linked to Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition, in such children.

Try over-the-counter OTC cold and cough medications. Earth sciences portal Geography portal Physics portal Science portal Weather portal. National Aeronautic and Space Administration. Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Archived from the original on 21 February Retrieved 22 February Archived from the original on 23 February Retrieved 15 February Archived from the original on 2 March Retrieved 16 February Archived from the original on 16 September Archived from the original on 31 January Archived from the original on 9 December Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Archived from the original on 5 March Mayo Clinic. Archived from the original on 4 February UB Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 March Bibcode : Natur. Archived from the original on 24 September Archived from the original on 27 August Retrieved 8 July The school was a cold, unwelcoming place.

Not being friendly. You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics: Not showing or feeling emotions. The police spared no effort to keep the case from going cold. At the time of his confession , the trail was turning cold, and investigators had given up on ever catching the killer. Technically, the Ramsey case is considered "cold," even after new technology discovered two new samples of DNA. The last credible sighting of the terrorist was more than a year ago and intelligence sources say the trail is cold.

Denver police and the district attorney's office insist the case has not gone cold, but they won't provide details about the investigation. In a case that has since grown cold, investigators have never found the package suspected of contaminating the building. Cops and journalists are on an increasingly cold trail that stretches back for decades. Related word coldness. Idioms be as cold as ice. I have a cold.

She caught a cold at school. B1 [ S or U ] cold weather or temperatures :. Don't stand out there in the cold, come in here and get warm. My feet were numb with cold. I forgot my gloves and my hands are getting cold. Idioms cold turkey. She said all was cold in the church, and nothing to catch hold on there. Need A Tutor?

A pharmacist can advise you on the best medicine. Be careful not to use cough and cold medicines if you're taking paracetamol and ibuprofen tablets, as it's easy to take more than the recommended dose.

There's little evidence that supplements such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic prevent colds or speed up recovery. Call your pharmacy or contact them online before going in person. You can get medicines delivered or ask someone to collect them. Find out about using the NHS during coronavirus.