a cold usually begins with feeling tired, a feeling of being chilled, sneezing, and a headache. additional symptoms such as runny nose and cough follow within two or more days. symptoms typically reach their worst two to three days after the infection begins. symptoms usually end after seven to ten days, but can last up to three weeks. the cough lasts for more than ten days in 35% to 40% of cases involving children. it lasts for more than 25 days in 10% of cases involving children.