Linger On

What to do when you feel fine but your cough and runny nose won’t go away

It’s a great relief to come to the other side of a bad cold or the flu—your appetite slowly comes back, you’re not stuck in bed as long, and you’re generally feeling like yourself again. Being sick becomes just another memory.

Except that cough lingers. Or your nose still runs. Or you speak to someone at work and they look concerned and say, “You sound awful.”

You don’t feel awful, so what’s going on? Why do you still have what many people lovingly refer to as “the crud?”

Francisco Fantauzzi, MD, who recently joined Dr. Jose Rendon’s Primary Care office in Savannah, says that even if the virus is done, your immune system might not be.

“We often get catch viruses from children, who play outside and touch everything, don’t wash their hands and then want to hug and kiss you,” Dr. Fantauzzi says with a laugh. “But our immune systems are typically not as strong as these adolescents. As adults, we tend to have more symptoms and they tend to last longer.”

In some cases, symptoms like coughing and a runny nose can last up to six weeks. Sometimes a nagging cough is due to residual airway inflammation from an upper respiratory tract infection. Clogged sinuses from a cold could lead to a secondary infection from bacteria.

“Viruses come in like an attack, whether it’s the flu, respiratory syncytial virus or RSV, or COVID,” Dr. Fantauzzi says. “They are the infantry that comes in and breaks down the immune system, and after that comes the bacteria and germs that can make you really sick.”

Dr. Fantauzzi recommends that anyone experiencing symptoms for more than 7-10 days see a doctor. Very severe coughing or shortness of breath are also reasons to get checked out by a physician.

“Comes see us,” he says. “We need to make sure what is causing it.”

But if you feel good overall, with no fever or heavily-clogged sinuses, then you may just need some over-the-counter medication to deal with the pestering cough and sniffles.

“Waiting to see what happens can be frustrating,” Dr. Fantauzzi says. “But if you take care of yourself and avoid secondary infections, you will be able to leave those lingering symptoms behind.

Could long-lasting symptoms indicate an allergy instead of a cold? Maybe, maybe not. Learn more in Separate Ways.