When colds should see a doctor

What benefits can be obtained by going to the doctor with symptoms of a cold

For most people, the appearance of cold symptoms associated with benign viral infection that results in complete recovery within 7-10 days.

In such situations, patients can not get any benefit from treatment to the doctor. A doctor can examine the patient and prescribe the survey, but these actions are not necessary. They are not speed recovery and reduce the chance of complications. The only thing that can help in this case - symptomatic treatment- patients can use themselves.

Access to a doctor may be appropriate in relatively rare situations:

• when catarrhal infection is aggressive;
• when a dangerous bacterial infection is connected to a viral infection.

In such situations, using inspection and additional diagnostics doctor can confirm the presence of complications, and on this basis to offer specific treatment. In turn, the treatment can speed up recovery and reduce the risk of further complications.

It also happens that for the manifestation of the common cold symptoms of other diseases are mistaken, including hazardous. In such situations, a medical examination increases the probability of correct diagnosis and the fact that special treatment will be started in time.

Catarrhal rhinitis

Current guidelinesAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Foundation | Clinical practice guideline (update): adult sinusitis, Patients are advised to consult a doctor if:

• strong rhinitis (painted with the release of mucus), nasal obstruction or a feeling of "pressure" in the face are stored for 10 days or more after the cold start, with no signs of relief;
• runny nose, nasal congestion or pain in the person first becomes weak, but then again began to grow;
• along with a runny nose in a sick man appeared high fever (39 ° C or higher), and these symptoms persist for 3-4 days has no signs of relief.

What can help access to a doctor

In most cases described symptoms associated with bacterial sinusitis (inflammation of the paranasal sinuses).

After the diagnosis the doctor may suggest the patientGuide for patients on issues related with a runny nose, nasal congestion, various forms of rhinitis and sinusitis or watch the development of the disease a few days, or immediately begin treatment with antibiotics to speed recovery and reduce the risk of complications.

Catarrhal cough

7-10 days after the start of colds cough it passes almost half of affected individuals. In the second half of the children and adults catarrhal cough persists for a few more days or weeks. This phenomenon is called post-infectious cough and does not require any treatment.

Patients with symptoms of a cold are advised to contact a doctor if:

• cough accompanied by rapid breathing * and / or ** rapid pulse;
• cough accompanied noisy breathing or feeling of lack of air;
• when breathing much like a sick person drawn intercostal spaces;
• the patient has had pains in the chest, back or upper abdomen, which are amplified by coughing or deep inspiration;
• the patient started having very strong suffocating cough;
• cough gradually increases over several weeks, with no signs of improvement in condition of the patient;
• temperature is first held, but after a few days once again rose above 38 ° C;
• It occurs during coughing sputum blood.

What can help access to a doctor

Individually or in various combinationsCough. Evidence-based guidance for patients These signs and symptoms may be associated with a number of states in which the patient can greatly benefit from immediate medical examination, a diagnosis of complex and special treatment.

In particular, cough accompanied by fever, frequent pulse and frequent breathing may indicate the development of pneumonia.

Gradually increasing cough can be a symptom of tuberculosis.

Attacks of choking cough may indicate a pertussis - infection, which in some people can lead to serious complications.

When the pain in the throat

Like other cold symptoms, most patients pain and inflammation in the throat visibly relieved or disappear within 5-7 days.

Current guidelinesEuropean Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases | Guideline for the management of acute sore throat, Patients are advised to consult a doctor if:

• along with pain in the throat there was a strong pain in the ear;
• ill person gets progressively worse (the temperature rises to 40-41 ° C, throat pain worse);
• there was a "bulge" in the throat;
• the patient became difficult to breathe or swallow saliva;
• sick patient to turn his head or open his mouth;
• the patient had a strong headache or pain in the right or the left cheek;
• long ill becomes better (the temperature above 38 ° C and severe pain in the throat persist for more than 10 days after onset of disease);
• sick child aged 3 to 15 years and at the same time with a sore throat, he developed an obvious purulent inflammation of the tonsils (whitish deposits on the surface of the tonsils).

What can help access to a doctor

These symptoms may be associated with the development of septic complications angina, wherein the patient help operation and / or antibiotics.

Some of the children aged 3-15 years with purulent tonsillitis caused by beta-hemolytic streptococcus of group A may benefit from treatment Evidence-based guidance for patients on issues related to acute pain and inflammation in the throat antibiotics. This treatment is only slightly reduces the duration of illness, however, significantly reduces the risk of some severe rheumatological complications.

Other situations in which you need to seek medical advice

In addition to the above-mentioned situations, patients with cold symptoms should see a doctor in such cases:

1. Simultaneously, severe pain in the ear appeared with other symptoms (or both ears). In this case, antibiotic treatment may be imposed that accelerate the healing otitis at average.
2. There was an unusually severe weakness (for example, if ill so weak that it is difficult to get out of bed).
3. If the disease started with a high temperature and severe weakness, and the man fell ill in flu season and are at increased risk of developing complications of the infection. In such a situation when immediate medical treatment to the patient may be asked to early treatment antiviral drugs (oseltamivir).

According to current guidelines for professionalsCDC | People at High Risk of Developing Flu-Related ComplicationsTo the category of people with an increased risk of complications from influenza include:

• children under 5 years, especially under the age of 2 years;
• people older than 65 years;
• pregnant women and women during the first two weeks after birth;
• Patients with chronic respiratory diseases (asthma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease);
• adults with considerable overweight;
• adults and children with severe cardiovascular diseases, renal insufficiency, liver cirrhosis, sickle cell anemia or other significant hematological disorders;
• adults and children who take drugs that suppress the function the immune system;
• Patients with inflammatory diseases that require prolonged use, aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid);
• adults and children with diabetes mellitus (type 1 st, patients with diabetes are not only at higher risk of complications, but also may require adjustment of insulin treatment);
• patients with diseases of the nervous system and / or intellectual disabilities (due to the risk of accumulation of mucus in the airways).

Patients of these risk groups should contact your doctor for advice.

Finally, a call to the doctor - the right solution for all people who are not sure that they can properly assess your condition and character of the development of the disease.