When you should contact your doctor
The main
complications of the flu and the common cold are bacterial infections
of the sinuses or lungs (pneumonia). Symptoms of these complications
include fever, chills, and yellow, green, or brown sputum or nasal
discharge. Children may also develop ear infections (acute otitis
media).
It is
appropriate to consult your doctor or healthcare professional if you:
- are a child -
any sore throats or coughs should be investigated by a doctor
- belong to a high-risk group (e.g.,
people with other medical conditions or weakened immune systems, the
elderly, very young children)
- have a sore throat that lasts more
than two days, if it is beefy, red, swollen, and covered with pus
- have a runny nose that lasts more
than 10 days, if the discharge is green or yellow, or if there is
severe facial pain or headache
- have a cough that lasts more than
7-10 days, or if it is severe with thick green or bloody mucus
- have a high fever (higher than
38.5șC) that lasts more than 4 days
- have a high fever return within
4-14 days
- have difficulty breathing
There are a
variety of prescription and non-prescription medications that are
useful for relieving symptoms and for controlling pain. Please
consult your pharmacist or healthcare professional to determine which
medication is the right one for you. Antibiotics are not effective
for the flu or a cold unless a bacterial infection develops.
Echinacea and
zinc have been studied for treatment of the common cold. Evidence for
their effectiveness is debatable.
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