Persistent Cough and Cold: The “Crud” Strikes

It’s really something—people are coughing and sneezing like crazy, but it’s not COVID-19 or the flu. Nope, it’s this thing people are calling “the crud.”

The crud started circulating in the KIRO Newsradio newsroom during the second week of January. I caught it around January 14. You know, sore throat, that medium cough, just the typical cold symptoms. Took some over-the-counter meds, which helped for a bit. I even took a day off work to sleep, thinking I’d beaten it. Fast forward three weeks, and I was still dealing with one of the driest coughs I’ve ever had. It even spread to my family.

I actually wrote that last bit down on February 2.

This cold and a nagging cough stuck around until March. And I’m not the only one; others in the newsroom are still coughing, sniffling, and dealing with sore throats.

A month ago, I went to a walk-in clinic.

“It’s going around,” the doctor informed me.

But it’s definitely not COVID-19. No flu, either. I got tested. Not pneumonia, although the doctor did offer a chest X-ray. When I asked about the longevity of this cough, he mentioned it could last a few more weeks.

He was spot on. For me, it lasted a total of seven weeks.

Expert Insight on the Crud

I reached out to Dr. Ralph Tayyar from the University of Washington to get his take on this crud.

“I’ve heard a lot about this never-ending crud, but what people often refer to as the crud isn’t a specific illness,” he explained. “It’s usually just a collection of common respiratory viruses.”

There are actually over 200 common cold viruses, and they typically hang around for a week to ten days. Tayyar noted that they irritate the linings of our noses, throats, and lungs.

“What people are really experiencing with that lingering effect isn’t just the virus itself. The virus and viral infections might only last about a week, but the inflammation in the airways? That can stick around a lot longer,” he pointed out.

These viruses often layer on top of one another, causing prolonged inflammation.

“You get through one virus, and then another hits you. So it feels like it just goes on forever,” Tayyar added.

It could drag on for two months, with these common cold viruses possibly lingering into April or May this year.

For treatment, rest and over-the-counter medications can help.

“Wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your face, and if you’re sick, just stay home,” he advised.

I asked when it might be time to seek medical attention, perhaps for the flu, COVID-19, or pneumonia.

“You should look for medical help if you experience a high fever, shortness of breath, or chest pains, especially if you start feeling worse after initially improving,” Tayyar cautioned.

The fever is a crucial sign. That’s your cue to reach out for help.

Tayyar emphasized that this cold doesn’t seem worse than usual this year. It’s just annoying—but it’ll pass with time.

And to everyone in the newsroom? I had this crud for seven weeks and only took a single day off. Sorry if I made anyone else sick.