Table 1.
Content of the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS-44)
| Symptoms | Symptoms | Symptoms | Functional impairments |
| 1. How sick do you feel today? [Gt] | 12. Body aches [A] | 23. Swollen glands [A] | 34. Think clearly [F] |
| 2. Cough [C] | 13. Feeling "run down" [Ti] | 24. Plugged ears [E] | 35. Speak clearly [F] |
| 3. Coughing stuff up [C] | 14. Sweats [Sw] | 25. Ear discomfort [E] | 36. Sleep well [F] |
| 4. Cough interfering with sleep [C] | 15. Chills [Sw] | 26. Watery eyes [O] | 37. Breathe easily [F] |
| 5. Sore throat [Th] | 16. Feeling feverish [Sw] | 27. Eye discomfort [O] | 38. Walk, climb stairs, exercise [F] |
| 6. Scratchy throat [Th] | 17. Feeling dizzy [O] | 28. Head congestion [O] | 39. Accomplish daily activities [F] |
| 7. Hoarseness [Th] | 18. Feeling tired [Ti] | 29. Chest congestion [Ch] | 40. Work outside the home [F] |
| 8. Runny nose [N] | 19. Irritability [O] | 30. Chest tightness [Ch] | 41. Work inside the home [F] |
| 9. Plugged nose [N] | 20. Sinus pain [Si] | 31. Heaviness in chest [Ch] | 42. Interact with others [F] |
| 10. Sneezing [N] | 21. Sinus pressure [Si] | 32. Lack of energy [Ti] | 43. Live your personal life [F] |
| 11. Headache [Si] | 22. Sinus drainage [Si] | 33. Loss of appetite [O] | 44. Compared to yesterday [Gy] |
Items selected for WURSS-21 are in bold italics
Directions for items (2 – 33): "Please rate the average severity of your cold symptoms over the last 24 hours by marking the appropriate circle for each of the following symptoms."
Response options range 0 to 7, with 0 = Do not have, 1 = Very mild, 3 = Mild, 5 = Moderate, 7 = Severe
Directions for items (34 – 43): "Over the last 24 hours, how much has your cold interfered with your ability to..."
Response options are 0 to 7, with 0 = Not at all, 1 = Very mildly, 3 = Mildly, 5 = Moderately, 7 = Severely
Factor analysis for original validation study identified 10 domains: C = Cough; Th = Throat; N = Nasal; A = Aches; Ti = Tired; Si = Sinus/headache; Sw = Sweats/chills/fever; E = Ears; Ch = Chest; F = Functional/activity
Gt = Global severity today; Gy = Global change since yesterday; O = Did not fit within any domain