Is it more than just a cold?
June 12, 2012 11:19 PM Subscribe
I feel silly asking this, but... what are the signs that it's more than just a cold? Or, more to the point: antibiotics don't treat a virus. I realize this. What are the signs that it's something more than just a virus?
I've been sick for a week now. I'm not terribly sick, but I don't seem to be getting better either. I've lost my voice. My throat is sore, but that's mostly from coughing, I assume. My lungs feel a little congested, but not terribly so. Mostly, I'm just miserable from being sick for a week and I want to do anything to speed this frigging cold up!!!
...and what I really want to do is make sure I'm not under-reacting. I want to make sure that if this is something more than just a common cold virus, I'm acting accordingly to best take care of myself and speed up the healing process!!!
I've been sick for a week now. I'm not terribly sick, but I don't seem to be getting better either. I've lost my voice. My throat is sore, but that's mostly from coughing, I assume. My lungs feel a little congested, but not terribly so. Mostly, I'm just miserable from being sick for a week and I want to do anything to speed this frigging cold up!!!
...and what I really want to do is make sure I'm not under-reacting. I want to make sure that if this is something more than just a common cold virus, I'm acting accordingly to best take care of myself and speed up the healing process!!!
Here are some common types of respiratory infection.
Pneumonia typically has a fever (like a real fever, >100.5 degrees F) and a productive cough meaning that you're coughing stuff up. Antibiotics are useful for bacterial pneumonia.
Bronchitis is typically a persistent cough that lasts from 1-3 weeks, may be productive, not usually accompanied by a fever. Antibiotics are not typically recommended for bronchitis.
The common cold (an "upper respiratory tract infection" or URI) typically consists of sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion. It can be accompanied by laryngitis (the loss of your voice that you describe). Antibiotics do not work for colds, as you noted.
Influenza usually presents with cough, fever, chills, sore throat, headache, weakness/fatigue, myalgias (muscle aches). Can include laryngitis. Influenza is caused by a virus and antivirals are not useful after a few days of symptoms.
anyway IANYD, but don't forget to take symptomatic medications. I am always surprised how many patients come in miserable from cold symptoms and haven't tried decongestants, throat lozenges, cough syrup, ibuprofen, etc. And wash your hands. But I would say give it another week before worrying about seeing a doctor at all if you're "not that sick", because viral respiratory infections can certainly last significantly longer than a week. If you've still got symptoms in a week but they're getting better, if I were you, I'd just keep going with the tincture of time.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:36 PM on June 12, 2012 [7 favorites]
Pneumonia typically has a fever (like a real fever, >100.5 degrees F) and a productive cough meaning that you're coughing stuff up. Antibiotics are useful for bacterial pneumonia.
Bronchitis is typically a persistent cough that lasts from 1-3 weeks, may be productive, not usually accompanied by a fever. Antibiotics are not typically recommended for bronchitis.
The common cold (an "upper respiratory tract infection" or URI) typically consists of sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion. It can be accompanied by laryngitis (the loss of your voice that you describe). Antibiotics do not work for colds, as you noted.
Influenza usually presents with cough, fever, chills, sore throat, headache, weakness/fatigue, myalgias (muscle aches). Can include laryngitis. Influenza is caused by a virus and antivirals are not useful after a few days of symptoms.
anyway IANYD, but don't forget to take symptomatic medications. I am always surprised how many patients come in miserable from cold symptoms and haven't tried decongestants, throat lozenges, cough syrup, ibuprofen, etc. And wash your hands. But I would say give it another week before worrying about seeing a doctor at all if you're "not that sick", because viral respiratory infections can certainly last significantly longer than a week. If you've still got symptoms in a week but they're getting better, if I were you, I'd just keep going with the tincture of time.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:36 PM on June 12, 2012 [7 favorites]
p.s. strep throat is not usually accompanied by cough. In fact, the presence of cough is used to help rule out strep pharyngitis as a diagnosis.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:37 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by treehorn+bunny at 11:37 PM on June 12, 2012
Response by poster: The only reason I'm coughing is that I have a little bit of gunk that seems absolutely determined to get into my throat. I'm probably fine and just need to ride this out.
posted by 2oh1 at 11:46 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by 2oh1 at 11:46 PM on June 12, 2012
If it's been a week and you're not seeing ANY improvement, that might be Dr. time. Have you been monitoring your temperature? My pneumonia presents like a common cold and without a fever right up until the point where I am almost incapacitated.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:49 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:49 PM on June 12, 2012
Also - once I get an ache in my lower lungs I head to the Dr. - that's another way I distinguish my colds from pneumonia. Also, when I start coughing up "gunk" regularly.
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:51 PM on June 12, 2012
posted by Lt. Bunny Wigglesworth at 11:51 PM on June 12, 2012
As far as I know, the old school yardstick has not been discredited: if your snot is clear, it's fine; if it's green or yellow, see a healthcare provider.
posted by DarlingBri at 1:36 AM on June 13, 2012
posted by DarlingBri at 1:36 AM on June 13, 2012
Seconding "go to the doctor". While there, ask them what they're looking for, why, and how (if) you can do the same so that you can have a better idea in the future, as well as signs it's good to go see them. Plus it will be personalized, if it's a GP who knows some of your medical history. Everyone has little quirks. I was recently slammed by an infection that presented to me as allergies. Then I started getting bad dizzy spells, so checked in with my GP just in case. Ended up needing (really need-ing) a full week in bed + antibiotics – by the way, I had clear mucus and a dry cough. My doctor knew to check my lymph nodes and abdomen.
posted by fraula at 2:40 AM on June 13, 2012
posted by fraula at 2:40 AM on June 13, 2012
At this time of the year in northeast US, I get cold-like symptoms as allergic reactions to pollen. Runny nose, persistent cough, mild headaches, hoarse throat, and a general malaise. As I am learning, reactions to pollen allergies vary from year to year (maybe the weather produces more or less; this year is awful) and from geographic dislocations. I live near the seashore but work in the city. I'm fine during the day and suffer at home at night. Try a decongestant like Claritin-d if you suspect pollen might be a cause.
posted by birdwatcher at 4:20 AM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by birdwatcher at 4:20 AM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I'm not saying that you shouldn't be concerned, but I just had a cold like this that lingered for nearly two weeks. Stuffy head, cough, tired.. never went full blown, but was enough that I felt like shit. After about a week and a half I was getting concerned but then it slowly cleared up. On the flip side, my wife was feeling rough as well and I guessed we had the same thing, but she went to the doctor and was given antibiotics to clear it up. She had a lot more sinus trouble and headaches than me.
posted by Frasermoo at 5:37 AM on June 13, 2012
posted by Frasermoo at 5:37 AM on June 13, 2012
The only real way to tell if a sore throat is strep is to get a throat culture. If this isn't getting any better at all, go to the doctor and find out. If it is a bacterial infection, antibiotics will clear it up fast. If it's not, you've at least ruled it out and don't have to worry about it on top of feeling sick.
I've had strep a zillion times and the real kicker for me is if my throat hurts to *talk* as well as hurting to swallow. This isn't medically diagnostic, just how I've noticed the difference between a cold and strep.
posted by sonika at 5:48 AM on June 13, 2012
I've had strep a zillion times and the real kicker for me is if my throat hurts to *talk* as well as hurting to swallow. This isn't medically diagnostic, just how I've noticed the difference between a cold and strep.
posted by sonika at 5:48 AM on June 13, 2012
I have no idea if this is diagnostic or not, but the times I've had pneumonia, it came on very quickly. From "huh, maybe I have a cold coming on" to dizzy, fever, chills, painful cough in a matter of hours. It also took a long time for it to finally clear up. I would be back feeling fine within a week, but I would be hwarking up loogies for weeks. Guaifenesin works great for those situations. Another (personal) diagnostic for pneumonia has also been whether it hurts in my chest when I cough, and if I feel out of breath easily. Like literally low lung capacity, unable to say more than a few words before needing to breathe in again.
I've had colds linger for a week or more, so I wouldn't necessarily say that you *have* to go to a doctor simply because it is taking that long. But you should go to a doctor if it doesn't get any better after 10-14 days, or especially if it seems to be getting worse. Double-especially if there are other "systemic" symptoms. Like dehydration, aches and pains, or continued dizziness, or seeing spots, or coughing up any blood, or weird rashes.
Also, actual influenza (which you might have) seems to have a conventional definition of "a bad cold", when it can be a lot worse than that. I've had it, and it is an ass-kicker. Even though it is viral, you may need medical care for it because when you are already sick is a great time for other bacterial infections to sneak in.
posted by gjc at 6:06 AM on June 13, 2012
I've had colds linger for a week or more, so I wouldn't necessarily say that you *have* to go to a doctor simply because it is taking that long. But you should go to a doctor if it doesn't get any better after 10-14 days, or especially if it seems to be getting worse. Double-especially if there are other "systemic" symptoms. Like dehydration, aches and pains, or continued dizziness, or seeing spots, or coughing up any blood, or weird rashes.
Also, actual influenza (which you might have) seems to have a conventional definition of "a bad cold", when it can be a lot worse than that. I've had it, and it is an ass-kicker. Even though it is viral, you may need medical care for it because when you are already sick is a great time for other bacterial infections to sneak in.
posted by gjc at 6:06 AM on June 13, 2012
I've had colds last this long. If it doesn't start easing up -- if you don't start feeling like you have more energy, the runny nose is just a bit less runny, etc. -- in the next 4, 5, 6 days, then I'd go to a doctor. In the meantime, just make sure you're getting lots of rest!
posted by J. Wilson at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2012
posted by J. Wilson at 6:31 AM on June 13, 2012
From my reading of this NIH article, and I have seen other sources but can't seem to find them at the moment, the color of snot is not a good indicator.
posted by freezer cake at 10:04 AM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by freezer cake at 10:04 AM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
My ENT says that color of snot--unless it's actively bloody with fresh blood, not flecks from your nose being dry--isn't a reliable indicator of infection, and still less of whether an infection is viral or bacterial.
If you are running a fever, see a doctor. Viruses can kill you just as bacteria can. If you aren't running a fever, sounds like this is a persistent cold or allergy.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:17 PM on June 13, 2012
If you are running a fever, see a doctor. Viruses can kill you just as bacteria can. If you aren't running a fever, sounds like this is a persistent cold or allergy.
posted by Sidhedevil at 12:17 PM on June 13, 2012
the color of snot is not a good indicator.
I'm crushed!
posted by DarlingBri at 1:24 PM on June 13, 2012
I'm crushed!
posted by DarlingBri at 1:24 PM on June 13, 2012
Response by poster: In the end, I didn't go to the doctor. And wheeee! Here I am, alive and well. It was probably just the mother of the mother of all colds. The grandmother of all colds? Meh. Something like that. IT SUCKED!!! ...and now I'm fine.
posted by 2oh1 at 2:04 PM on July 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by 2oh1 at 2:04 PM on July 7, 2012 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
If you search for strep online, you can find plenty of pictures of what to look for.
posted by chiefthe at 11:35 PM on June 12, 2012