Should I Go to the Doctor for a Cold?
Sniffing, coughing, congestion in nose, sore throat, runny nose, headache and maybe mild fever are the signs that the viral infection of cold has incubated your body. Usually it is advised that in case of mild cold it’s better to have rest and treat yourself at home with chicken soup or other homemade remedies. But some time the mild cold isn’t actually mild. It may be the beginning of other harsh malady. In such case it’s best to visit a doctor. But how to know if it's necessary to book an appointment with your GP or not? In this OneHowTo article we explain you when you should go to the doctor for a cold.
Chest pain or trouble in breathing
A mild cold never causes chest pain or makes anyone short of breathe. So, occurrence of such symptoms along with symptoms of cold points to a more serious problem like asthma, heart disease or pneumonia. If you are having chest pain or trouble in breathing during a cold then you must definitely visit a doctor.
Fainting
While you are suffering from cold, if you get lightheaded or dizzy, constantly feel like about to faint or if you actually faint then you must seek doctor’s advice immediately. Common colds might cause you to feel weaker, but it shouldn't arrive to the point of even fainting.
Fever for more than 24 hours
If a child is suffering from fever with a temperature of atleast 39.5 degree Celsius/103 degree Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours then you should go to the doctor. In case of adult if he/she is suffering from fever with a body temperature of atleast 39 degree Celcius/102 degree Fahrenheit for 24 hours or more then you should seek advice from your doctor.
Usually common colds are not accompanied by fever. Fever is associated with bacterial infections.
Persistent vomiting
If your cold is accompanied by persistent bout of vomiting then it is very important to get immediate medical help. During persistent vomiting further delay may cause the person to suffer from dehydration.
Persistent nose congestion and headache
Nose congestion and mild headache is common for a person suffering from cold. But if the headache or the congestion persists for 7 days or more and won’t go away at any cost then it’s time to call a doctor, as it might be caused by something more serious.
Coughing for more than 10 days
Mild colds are usually accompanied by cough that goes away within a week. But if you are still coughing after 10 days then it’s necessary to consult a doctor because it can be a sign of bronchitis or other severe infection.
Rebound illness
Rebound illness means that you feel sick due to mild cold then you get better but then again you start feeling seek. This indicates superinfection which is caused when your immune system is weakened from a mild illness. In such case it’s best to seek doctor’s help as he would be able to properly diagnose your condition and advice you accordingly.
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Should I Go to the Doctor for a Cold?, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
