REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Sick have a cold can be very uncomfortable. If you do, you are most likely experiencing a combination of symptoms such as a sore throat, stuffy nose, and body aches that seem to go on forever.
“A cold usually lasts three to 10 days, but in some cases, you may experience symptoms for three to four weeks,” said Dr. R Peter Manes, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Yale Medicine. Huff PostMonday (20/2/2023).
While it’s normal to have a cold that lasts longer than two weeks, there are a few things to watch out for. This is to make sure prolonged symptoms are not a sign of something more serious. Here’s what you need to know if your illness doesn’t go away.
Check to make sure flu You are not a sign of another disease. “Covid-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) all spread in the same way and have symptoms that overlap with those of the common cold,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor emeritus clinical at the University of California, Berkeley’s School of Public Health.
By the time people reach their teens, they’re getting a taste of what a common cold feels like. However, the symptoms can be combined with those of other illnesses such as Covid-19. It is best to check how you feel.
Health experts say if you rule out other infections but your symptoms get worse, it may not have anything to do with your cold. For example, symptoms such as prolonged shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest pain are not associated with the flu. This could be a sign of an asthma attack, pneumonia, or in the case of chest pain, even a heart attack, says Manes. If you have any of these signs, it’s important not to ignore them and get medical attention right away.
Dr Marwan Azar, an infectious disease doctor at Yale Medicine, said that while the common cold is caused by a virus, another possibility is that you may have a bacterial infection. A persistent cold can be due to prolonged inflammation.
“If you have flu symptoms ongoing ones, such as recurrent coughs or an irritated throat for more than two weeks, are generally not due to persistent infection but due to the prolonged inflammatory consequences of cleared infection, especially postnasal drip,” said Azar.
Postnasal occurs when the body produces mucus in the nasal cavities and sinuses during a cold and drips down the throat. This causes a tickling that triggers a cough.
It takes time for the immune system to expel all the mucus. These symptoms may not go away if you don’t give them a chance to heal. Make sure you are well rested, hydrated and get enough sleep.
If you treat the flu properly and your symptoms don’t improve after three weeks, see a doctor. Swartzberg says symptoms such as wheezing accompanied by shortness of breath, persistent high fever, severe sore throat and coughing up mucus can be a sign of something serious if they last a long time, so it is important to seek medical attention.
The doctor will be able to order tests for other diseases (if you haven’t already had tests) and perform a physical exam to understand the severity of your symptoms. Symptoms can lead to further complications and infection if left untreated, so it’s best to have them checked out.
