Cold & Flu Season Guide
Short answer: most colds and flus get better on their own in about a week to 10 days. Over-the-counter products can ease symptoms but do not cure the illness. Match the product to your main symptom, follow the label, and do not give cough and cold products to children under 6.
Which product for which symptom
| Symptom | What people commonly use | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Cough with mucus | Expectorants (for example guaifenesin) | Cough and Congestion |
| Dry, tickly cough | Cough suppressants (for example dextromethorphan) and soothing lozenges | Cough and Congestion |
| Stuffy or runny nose, sinus pressure | Nasal sprays, saline products, oral decongestants | Sinus & Nasal |
| Fever, headache, body aches | Acetaminophen or ibuprofen, as directed on the label | Fever and Pain, Pain relief |
| Sore muscles and joints | Oral or topical pain relievers | Pain relief |
| Everyday immune support | Vitamins C and D, zinc, herbal products. Evidence for shortening colds is mixed. | Immune Support |
Many multi-symptom products combine several ingredients. Check the label so you do not double up on the same ingredient, such as acetaminophen, from two products.
Children
Health Canada advises that non-prescription cough and cold products should not be used in children under 6 years of age. Products labelled for ages 6 to 11 should be used only as directed on the label. For fever or pain in children, see our guide to acetaminophen vs ibuprofen for children and ask a pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure.
Guides
- Cold and flu medicine in Canada: how to choose
- Vitamin C and zinc for colds: what the evidence shows
- Echinacea for colds: does it work?
- Vitamin D in Canada in winter
- Children's fever and pain
When to see a doctor or pharmacist
- Trouble breathing, wheezing or chest pain (seek urgent care).
- A fever over 39 °C, or any fever lasting more than 3 days.
- Symptoms that improve and then get worse, or a cold lasting more than 10 days.
- A fever of any kind in a baby under 3 months.
- Symptoms in a child under 6, or in anyone who is pregnant, older, or living with heart, lung, kidney or liver disease, or taking other medicines. Ask before using a cough or cold product.
Sources
- Health Canada. Concerns about children's medication.
- Health Canada. Nonprescription Oral Paediatric Cough and Cold Labelling Standard.
- Hemilä H, Chalker E. Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2013.
- Nault D, et al. Zinc for prevention and treatment of the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2024.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Ask your pharmacist or doctor about your own situation.