Which symptom combination is typical of the common cold?

• A. Cough, runny/stuffy nose, and sore throat
• B. Cough, fever, chest pain, and anosmia (loss of smell)
• C. Fever and barking cough in a pediatric patient
• D. Difficulty breathing and swallowing with thick gray buildup in throat or nose

Answer: (A)

Recognize that the common cold is an uncomplicated viral infection that primarily affects the upper airways. The hallmark symptom pattern is cough with nasal congestion or runny nose and a sore throat. These symptoms arise from irritation and inflammation of the nasal passages and throat, with mucus production leading to congestion and coughing. Fever, if it occurs, is usually mild or absent, especially in adults (children may have a low-grade fever). This trio—cough, nasal discharge or congestion, and sore throat—best reflects the typical presentation of a common cold.

The other scenarios point toward different illnesses: a fever with chest pain and symptoms like loss of smell suggests influenza or another viral illness with systemic symptoms; a barking cough with fever in a child is characteristic of croup; and difficulty breathing with a thick gray membrane in the throat or nose points to diphtheria, a more serious infection not typical of a simple cold.