Upper Respiratory Infections
Upper Respiratory Infections
The common cold is an infection of your nose and throat by a virus. It usually goes away on its own even though it can be uncomfortable. The cold usually lasts a week to 10 days. This can last longer in people who smoke. Adults will usually have two to three colds a year.
A cold can include the following complaints:
- runny or stuffy nose (the discharge can be yellow or even green)
- sore throat
- cough
- body aches
- mild headache
- sneezing
- low grade fever
- generally not feeling well
Please call for an appointment if you have:
Adults
- Severe headache, sinus pain. or sore throat
- A fever above 101.3 F (38.5 C)
- A fever lasting 5 or more days
- A fever that comes back after being gone
- SOB
- wheezing
- not eating or drinking
Children
- ear pain
- wheezing
- fever over 100.4 F (38 C) in newborns up to 12 weeks
- fever lasting more than two days or rising
- worsening symptoms or just not getting better
- very fussy
- unusually sleepy
- severe headache or cough
Colds can turn into ear infections, asthma flares, sinus infections, strep throat, pneumonia, croup, bronchitis.
