A head cold is a type of common cold that involves symptoms in the head, such as a stuffed or runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, low-grade fever, general ill feeling, and mild body aches. It is caused by a virus that causes inflammation of the membranes that line the nose and throat. Symptoms should improve within a few days, and can usually be managed at home with rest and over-the-counter medications. Most people recover from a common cold in 7 to 10 days. However, some people, especially those with a weakened immune system, can develop more serious illnesses as a complication of a head cold, such as bronchitis, a sinus infection, or pneumonia.