Cold or flu symptoms? A runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, sneezing, cough or body aches can make you miserable. Advance ER is able to provide an accurate diagnosis of your symptoms. Our labs allow us to test to see if you have a common cold, the flu or a respiratory infection.
The most common symptoms of a cold include:
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Itchy or sore throat.
- Cough.
- Congestion.
- Slight body aches or a mild headache.
- Sneezing.
- Watery eyes.
- Low-grade fever
Cold and flu symptoms are similar. However, if you have the flu you usually will run a fever of 100oF or higher, experience headaches and/or body aches, chills, fatigue and may have nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. Stomach symptoms are most common in children. It is possible to contract the flu even if you have had a flu shot this season.
If your doctor suspects you have an upper respiratory infection, they will conduct the proper test to diagnose your condition.
Upper respiratory infections are very common and often cause patients to miss work. Respiratory infections are most common during fall and winter, although they can happen any time of year. Unless your doctor suspects a bacterial infection, you will most likely not be given antibiotics. Your body is capable of fighting off upper respiratory infections without assistance from medications.
If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, or think you may have an upper respiratory infection, use simple techniques to limit the spread of your illness to others. Washing your hands and covering your coughs and sneezes helps prevent the spread of the illness to others.
