The Cold

Colds can't be "cured" only endured so the main treatment is to hold body temperature under control and alleviate the symptoms. The following will help:

• ibuprofen, sold as Nurofen or similar with -fen suffix is a painkiller that can lower the body temperature of fever; iburpofen, for optimal effects, has to be combined with paracetamol and sometimes the medicine found under "Nurofen"-like labels advertise that they already contain paracetamol, otherwise, taking some paracetamol with the ibuprofen is ideal,
• coldrex, fervex and family are similar are powders that can be dissolved, typically in hot water and drank during colds. The medicine included is typically a cocktail that includes acetisallicillic acid (aspirin), paracetamol and frequently some vitamins like vitamin C. These are more of a cold-stress relief because drinking the mixture hot eases its absorption by the human body and acts very fast by making cold symptoms more endurable. Even if they are not medicine per-se, they are heartily recommended because they are very efficient at relieving stress during colds that actual medicine will not manage that quickly.

In principle, with proper medication applied after the symptoms (ie: fever) occur, as a short-hand rule, will last between 3 to 5 days. Iff. symptoms persist after 4 days of consistent and proper medication with ibuprofen and paracetamol, it might be time to switch to an antibiotic. Antibiotics are similar and curing effects should be observed after 3 days with a complete recovery expected after 5 days. Iff. there still is trouble after 5 days, then a doctor should be consulted.