36 to 48 hours.
The height of the common cold contagious period is when symptoms are at their worst -- usually around day 2 to day 4 of the cold. Based on previous studies, their best guess is that a person becomes contagious about two to three days before developing the usual symptoms of a cold. Second, this contagious period can last until the person no longer shows any symptoms. There are over 200 viruses responsible for the common cold. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the incubation periods for a few of the most common causative viruses involved with the common cold are: Rhinovirus: 2-7 days. Coronaviruses: 2-10 days. Adenoviruses: 2-14 days. Confidence votes 40.4K. The incubation period of the common cold is typically 36 to 48 hours, but, in some cases, symptoms can arise within 12 hours, or slightly less, of catching the virus. • There's over 200 viruses that can cause the common cold 19 Common Cold Flu The Flu-Incubation period 2 days (range 1-4 days) • Influenza disease is characterized by the abrupt onset of fever, myalgia, sore throat, nonproductive cough, and headache.  First, scientists involved with common cold research do not know exactly how long a person with a cold is contagious. Based on previous studies, their best guess is that a person becomes contagious about two to three days before developing the usual symptoms of a cold. Second, this contagious period can last until the person no longer shows any symptoms. So in theory, a person is contagious for about two weeks. (Click Cold Symptoms to read about the symptoms of the common cold or Cold and Flu Symptoms to learn the difference between a cold and the flu.). Let's assume you're the one with the cold Most people get colds in the winter and spring, but it is possible to get a cold at any time of the year. Symptoms usually include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, headaches and body aches. Most people recover within about 7-10 days. Many different viruses can cause the common cold, but rhinoviruses are the most common. Viruses that cause colds can spread from infected people to others through the air and close personal contact. You can also get infected through contact with stool or respiratory secretions from an infected person. Common Cold Virus Incubation Periods. There are over 200 viruses responsible for the common cold. Here are the incubation periods for a few of the most common according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rhinovirus: 2-7 days. Coronaviruses: 2-10 days. Adenoviruses: 2-14 days.  Person to Person. People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.  edit Infection mechanism for common cold vs flu. Both illnesses are airborne and contagious, the flu more so because of its short incubation period. The most common way to catch the flu or a cold is to inhale droplets from coughs or sneezes. Sneezes expel a significantly larger concentration of virus cloud than coughing.
http://cold.emedtv.com/common-cold/common-cold-contagious-period.html http://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_incubation_period_of_common_cold http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ip/trainconf/materials/2014-15-Flu-ppt-9-29-2014.pdf http://cold.emedtv.com/common-cold/common-cold-contagious-period.html http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Rhinoviruses/index.html http://www.sophisticatededge.com/incubation-period-for-a-cold.html http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/spread.htm http://www.diffen.com/difference/Common_Cold_vs_Flu
common cold incubation period cdc