Common cold? A runny nose like water is a common symptom of a cold. The incubation period of a cold varies from 1 to 3 days, depending on the virus. Most of them have a burning sensation in their nose and throat, followed by stuffy nose, sneezing, runny nose, general malaise and muscle pain. When catching a cold, nasal secretions are watery and clear at first, and then become mucus or purulent.