Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat, which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days.
Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.
Sometimes you may mistake cold symptoms for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) or a sinus infection
If cold symptoms begin quickly and are improving after a week, then it is usually a cold, not allergy. If your cold symptoms do not seem to be getting better after a week, check with your doctor to see if you have developed an allergy or sinusitis.