Self Care Articles

Is this your symptom?

• Runny nose and sore throat caused by a virus
• You think you have a cold. Reason: other family members, friends or co-workers have same symptoms.
• Also called an Upper Respiratory Infection (URI)

Symptoms of a Cold

• Runny or stuffy nose
• The nasal discharge starts clear, but changes to grey. It can also be yellow or green.
• Most people will have a fever at the start.
• A sore throat can be the first sign
• At times, you may have a cough and hoarse voice. Sometimes, watery eyes and swollen lymph nodes in the neck also occur.

Cause of Colds

• Colds are caused by many respiratory viruses. Adults may get several a year.
• The influenza virus causes a bad cold with more fever and muscle aches.
• Colds are not serious.
• Few people develop another health problem. Some people may develop an ear or sinus infection, bronchitis, tonsilitis or an infection in their lungs.

Colds: Normal Viral Symptoms

• Colds can cause a runny nose, sore throat, hoarse voice, a cough or croup. They can also cause stuffiness of the nose, sinus or ear. Red watery eyes can also occur. Colds are the most common reason for calls to the doctor. This is because of all the symptoms that occur with colds.
• Cold symptoms do not normally need to be seen by a doctor. The cold symptoms listed below are normal and are not a reason to be seen:
• Fever up to 3 days (unless it goes above 104° F or 40° C)
• Sore throat up to 5 days (with other cold symptoms)
• Runny nose or congestion up to 2 weeks
• Coughs up to 3 weeks

Colds: Symptoms of Secondary Bacterial Infections (other health problems)

Using this guide, you can decide if you have developed another health problem. This happens a low percentage of people who have a cold. Many will have an ear infection or sinus infection. Others go on to develop tonsilitis. Look for these symptoms:

• Earache or ear discharge
• Sinus pain not relieved by nasal washes
• Pus in the eyes (eyelids or eyelashes may stick together after sleep)
• Trouble breathing or rapid breathing (could have pneumonia)
• Fever lasts more than 3 days
• Fever that goes away for 24 hours and then returns
• Sore throat lasts over 5 days (may have Strep throat)
• White pus-filled spots on the tonsils
• Nasal discharge lasts over 2 weeks
• Cough lasts over 3 weeks

Trouble Breathing: How to Tell

• Struggling for each breath or shortness of breath
• Tight breathing so that you are unable to speak in full sentences.
• Breathing has become noisy (such as wheezes)
• Breathing is much faster than normal
• Long pauses between breaths (apnea attacks)
• You appear exhausted
• Lips or face turn a bluish color
• Shortness of breath that is not getting better with usual treatment or is getting worse rapidly