Here are the things you need to know about the common cold
COMMON COLD – This condition may be mistaken for flu as they are both respiratory illnesses and can cause similar symptoms but here are the things you need to know to differentiate them gradually.
Cold and flu have these similar symptoms:
- a runny or stuffy nose
- sneezing
- body aches
- general fatigue.
However, keep in mind that symptoms of flu are always more severe than the symptoms of a cold. Another factor that you should consider is that colds come without additional health conditions or problems, unlike flu that can lead to sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, and sepsis.
Based on the article from Healthline, common cold symptoms often take a few days to appear. These are the symptoms:
Nasal symptoms include:
- congestion
- sinus pressure
- runny nose
- stuffy nose
- loss of smell or taste
- sneezing
- watery nasal secretions
- postnasal drip or drainage in the back of your throat
Head symptoms include:
- watery eyes
- headache
- sore throat
- cough
- swollen lymph nodes
Whole-body symptoms include:
- fatigue or general tiredness
- chills
- body aches
- low-grade fever
- chest discomfort
- difficulty breathing deeply
When it comes to diagnosis, it is rarely required to have a trip to the doctor, however, identifying the symptoms of a cold is needed in diagnosing yourself. If the symptoms persist for a week or more, that it the time that you need to see a doctor because these can be another health condition such as flu or strep throat.
Usually, the virus works its way out in about a week to 10 days. However, when the symptoms do not subside or worsen on the 5th day or if they do not disappear within a week, there is a possibility that you have developed another condition. At this point, seeing your doctor is necessary in order to conduct a series of tests, according to the article.
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