Viral colds are very common and almost everyone has had a viral cold. How many days does a viral cold usually cause a fever? The common symptoms of a viral cold include fever, headache, fatigue, body aches and pains, stuffy nose, runny nose, etc.; but not all viral colds have a fever. If it is a common cold, the fever may last for 1 to 3 days and will not exceed 38.5. If it is influenza, the fever may last for about 5 days and may reach 39 to 40 degrees, and may be accompanied by chills, general muscle aches, and weakness. In severe cases, complications such as otitis media and pneumonia may also occur. The common cold usually does not have these complications, and the systemic symptoms are mild or absent, if any, and last for a short period of time. If you don’t have a high fever, you don’t need to take antipyretic drugs, you can drink more water, pay attention to rest, and you will usually get better on your own, if you have a high fever and headache, you can take antipyretic drugs. For example, non-steroidal antipyretic and analgesic drugs, and also physical cooling. If the condition is serious, you need to be hospitalized in time. In short, viral cold fever may last for three to five days.