6When to See A Doctor
Mucus color is not always the best way to determine whether you have a bacterial infection, a viral infection, or a common cold. Instead, you need to pay special attention to the worsening of other symptoms and the duration of the illness. Most common colds tend to last from 7 to 10 days and peak between the third and seventh day. A bacterial infection would worsen beyond this period of time. Other signs that you need to visit a doctor include yellow mucus followed by a fever that persists 3 or 4 days, dark circles swelling around the eyes, or a headache. [6]
