The cold weather during the fall and winter often makes it easier to develop upper respiratory illnesses, but the early days of spring can also pose a similar risk. However, there are many upper respiratory conditions that can resemble the common cold, and some may require medical attention to treat.
Let’s try to separate the symptoms of each illness type so you have a better understanding of what you’re dealing with and when you should see your primary care provider.
Melanchton A. Mangoba, MD, and his dedicated team help Riverside, California, residents with many problems, including sick visits for upper respiratory illnesses.
The typical misery we collectively deal with when an upper respiratory infection sets in comes from a few common forms:
Allergies, an immune system overreaction to harmless substances that can be similar to a cold, may be another culprit this time of year.
Many upper respiratory infections affect the sinuses, throat, and lungs, but the signs of each are not the same:
Most often, a cold presents with a sore throat, nasal congestion (runny or stuffy nose), and sometimes coughing, sneezing, and nausea, depending on severity. Headaches and fever are rare, but possible.
With this virus, headaches are common, along with fatigue and symptoms similar to those of a cold, like sore throat, coughing, sneezing, and nasal congestion. However, they can also cause aching muscles, fever, diarrhea, loss of taste or smell, and breathing problems.
The reactions to allergens, often referred to as hay fever, typically come with itchy eyes, nose, mouth, or inner ear, sneezing, and nasal congestion. Less common but still possible symptoms include coughing, fatigue, sore throat, breathing problems, loss of smell or taste, and pink eye.
Often mistaken for colds, the flu often has coughing, sore throat, and nasal congestion, but unlike colds, you also get headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, fever, and occasionally sneezing, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and nausea.
If your problems are centered in your chest rather than your head, bronchitis is more likely than a cold. While many illnesses cause sore throats, strep throat primarily affects this area.
Contacting your provider is always a good idea when symptoms start to appear, but in many cases, these infections will subside with over-the-counter (OTC) medications and rest. However, you should make an appointment with us if the symptoms worsen or last longer than expected, which is typically around five days with lingering signs lasting up to three weeks.
Timeframes may vary by illness, but if your attempts to recover aren’t effective, make an appointment online or by phone with Dr. Mangoba and his team as soon as possible to get relief.
