At the Urgent Care at Vermont, we treat patients for cold and flu symptoms and upper respiratory infections (URI). A cold is a viral infection of the nose and throat that is usually harmless. The flu is a contagious respiratory infection caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and sometimes the lungs. URIs are usually caused by a virus and are characterized by inflammation of the respiratory passages. These are all common ailments that patients may confuse with one another.
Cold Symptoms
A cold usually improves in about one to two weeks without seeing a doctor. Symptoms tend to come on gradually and include:
- A runny or blocked nose
- A sore throat
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- A raised temperature
- The sensation of pressure in your ears and face
- Inability to smell or taste
The symptoms are the same for children and adults, though they may last longer for children. You can shorten your recovery time by getting plenty of rest and sleep and staying well hydrated. Adults with cold symptoms can gargle warm salt water to soothe a sore throat. A pharmacist can recommend a good cold medicine. There is little evidence that supplements like vitamin C, echinacea, or garlic prevent or shorten colds.
Come see us if your cold symptoms persist after 3 weeks, if they get worse, if you develop a high temperature or have chills, if you’re worried about your child’s symptoms, if you experience chest pain or shortness of breath, if you also have a chronic condition like diabetes or a heart, lung, or kidney condition, or if you have a weakened immune system.
Flu Symptoms
The flu will often get better on its own, but it can make some people seriously ill, particularly infants and young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions. Flu symptoms include:
- A sudden high temperature
- Body aches
- Tiredness or exhaustion
- A dry cough
- Sore throat
- Headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Appetite loss
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Feeling sick
Children with the flu may also have an earache and become less active.
If you have the flu, get plenty of rest, keep warm, take ibuprofen for the aches and pains and to lower your fever, and drink plenty of water to keep up your fluids. A pharmacist can give treatment advice and recommend flu remedies, but don’t collect medicine in person while you are contagious. You are most contagious during the first five days, and the flu virus can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
Come see us if you develop flu symptoms and fall into one of the risk groups listed above. Go to the emergency room if you experience sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing, or begin coughing up blood. Minimize the risk of spreading the flu by washing your hands often with warm water and soap, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and avoid contact with other people.
URI Symptoms
URIs are infections of the respiratory system, including the sinuses, throat, airways, or lungs. They usually improve without treatment, but you may need to come see us. Symptoms of URIs include:
- A cough that may bring up mucus
- Sneezing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- A tight chest, wheezing, or shortness of breath
- High temperature
- General feeling of unwellness
Here are a few things you can do at home if you’re experiencing these symptoms:
- Rest
- Stay hydrated
- Drink a hot lemon and honey drink to soothe a cough (not for babies under 1 year old)
- Gargle with warm salt water for a sore throat
- Keep head elevated with extra pillows while sleeping to make breathing easier
- Bring down a fever and manage sore throat, headaches, and muscle pain with painkillers
- Stay at home and avoid contact with other people
- Avoid smoking
If your symptoms get worse, if the cough persists after three weeks, if you are pregnant or over 65, if you’re coughing up blood, if you have long-term health conditions, or if you have a weakened immune system, you may need to come see us. Severe symptoms could also indicate pneumonia.