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The Common Cold
The symptoms of a common cold usually resolve on their own within 1-2 weeks.
Symptoms include:
Influenza
The symptoms of influenza are similar to those of a cold, except you will have a fever as well.
Symptoms include:
Most people are familiar with these symptoms, however there are a few specific things to look out for:
Runny Nose
The discharge from your nose is usually clear and watery to begin with, later becoming thicker and perhaps yellow or green. Yellow or green combined with a fever, sore face or teeth, and persistent symptoms may signal the onset of a sinus infection. Blood in the mucus or phlegm along with a headache is even more likely to be due to a sinus infection.
Dry Cough
A dry cough is much less problematic than a wet cough. If you start producing colored sputum, be it yellow, green, or bloody, it could be a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia; contact your doctor. This is even more important if you are a smoker.
Sore Throat
If your (or your child's) throat hurts, take a look with a flashlight. Also feel the upper neck below the angle of the jaw and below the ears. If the glands are swollen or the throat is bright red or covered with yellow or white goo (discharge or exudates), it may be strep throat that should be treated with penicillin (to prevent rheumatic fever ). Contact your doctor.
References
American Academy of Family Physicians website. Available at: http://www.aafp.org/ . Accessed February 1, 2006.
American Academy of Pediatrics website. Available at: http://www.aap.org/ . Accessed February 1, 2006.
Beers MH, Berkow R. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy . 17th ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons; 1999.
Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Isselbacher KJ, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine . 14th ed. New York, NY: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2000.
Last reviewed July 2010 by Marcin Chwistek, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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