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Complications of the common cold: when to see a doctor?
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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As a rule, the symptoms of a cold pass by themselves, without treatment. But if your body is attacked by complications of a cold, the situation can very soon deteriorate. How to distinguish symptoms of cold complications and what to do if your condition worsens?
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Cold and sinusitis (sinusitis)
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the sinuses of the nose. This inflammation causes mucus in the sinuses of the nose, the glands of which will now give off more mucus. Then at you in a nose the raised pressure because of a liquid in sinuses of a nose can grow - and the head can hurt or be ill; be sick.
If the cold lingers for more than a week, and you begin to experience pain in the sinuses of the nose, headache, toothache, nasal congestion, coughing, thick yellow or green discharge from the nose, be sure to see a doctor. You may have an infection of the nasal passages. This is a rather dangerous condition, in which you must always consult a doctor.
Do not confuse the common cold with the flu
Symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, fatigue with colds go away on their own. But with the flu will have to be treated. If you have severe muscle and headaches or a temperature above 38 degrees Celsius, it may be a flu. Then you will need to check with the doctor's help what exactly you are sick with. Medications prescribed to them can shorten the duration of flu symptoms if you consult a doctor immediately after the onset of symptoms.
But sometimes even an easy cold can lead to serious medical complications, including:
- Sinus infections (sinusitis or sinusitis)
- Asthma attacks
- Bronchitis (with a dry cough)
- Ear infections
Read also: Complications after the flu: what should I fear?
In addition, if you have had asthma, chronic bronchitis or suffered from emphysema before the cold, you may have respiratory symptoms after a few weeks - when you breathed freely and decided that the cold left you. Let's look at some complications of the common cold.
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When to call a doctor for complications of a cold?
If you or your child has any of the following symptoms, you should definitely seek help from a doctor:
- Earache
- Pain in the sinuses of the nose (pain around the nose and eyes), which lasts more than a week
- The temperature is above 39 degrees Celsius, especially if it is in a child under 12 weeks old.
- Cough with phlegm, which does not stop more than a week
- Dyspnea
- Deterioration of cold symptoms during the first three days
- Symptoms of colds that last longer than 14 days
If you have these cold complications, you may need antibiotics or other medications. And, of course, consultation of a doctor-therapist.
Colds and bronchitis (with complications of the common cold)
Acute bronchitis (also called a cold) is an inflammation and irritation of the respiratory tract caused by a bacterial or viral infection. With bronchitis, you can have a cough with mucus, which can be dense and yellow, and sometimes with bloody veins.
Most people recover without treatment. But if these symptoms persist for more than a week or if you develop shortness of breath, call your doctor to get medical help as soon as possible. Also consult your doctor if you have chronic lung disease or asthma or any of these symptoms.
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Colds and ear infections
Ear infections are another complication of the common cold. Viruses cause up to 80% of ear infections, and, regrettably, antibiotics do not affect them.
For bacterial infections associated with a streptococcal bacterium that causes more than 7 million cases of ear infection, you may develop ear pain, insomnia, hearing problems, fever, partial deafness.
Colds and chronic diseases
If you have chronic illnesses such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, emphysema or HIV / AIDS, a cold can lead to more serious health problems. That is why it is so important to know what kind of prevention and treatment should be taken to cope with the complications of the common cold.
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Other secondary infections
These include acute pharyngitis (streptococcal pharyngitis), pneumonia, bronchitis in adults and bronchiolitis in children. These infections need to be treated permanently.