Cold and flu

It's good to be aware of the signs that indicate you have a cold. Typical signs and symptoms of a cold include:

• Cough
• Fever in children and some adults
• Head and body aches
• Mild fatigue
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Sore throat

Colds usually last for about one week. If you experience throat pain and a cough, or other signs of a cold, our providers may offer treatment options and medications to lessen symptom severity.

Since colds and flu share some similar symptoms, it's good to know the difference between the two and what the flu specifically looks like.

Flu symptoms usually appear suddenly in contrast to cold symptoms, which generally appear more slowly. Flu symptoms include:

• Chills
• Extreme fatigue
• Fever
• Muscle aches
• Weakness

To confirm if you have the flu, we recommend visiting one of our walk-in clinics after developing symptoms to obtain a flu test.

Flu prevention

You can spread the flu virus to others up to a day before you notice symptoms and for up to a week after symptoms begin. To reduce the spread of the virus, avoid work, school and crowded places.

To reduce your risk of illness, get the annual flu vaccine, wash your hands regularly and stay away from sick people as much as you can help it.

Upper respiratory infections (URIs) include colds, sore throats and sinus infections, and typically occur in the fall and winter. The majority of URIs are caused by viruses, making antibiotics rarely necessary.

Lower respiratory infections

Lower respiratory tract infections can be caused by either a virus or bacteria. People with lower respiratory infections (bronchitis or pneumonia) typically exhibit symptoms such as shortness of breath, fever, coughing and fatigue.

There are no known treatments for most types of viral infections, although our providers may prescribe medications to manage symptoms. For bacterial infections, antibiotics may be prescribed.

Complications of acute respiratory infection can be serious. Call 911 immediately if you experience:

• Chest pain
• Confusion
• Irregular heartbeat
• Shortness of breath

Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis typically occurs in infants and children. Watch for changes in breathing, such as struggling for breath, making grunting noises or an inability to speak or cry.

Since the condition is caused by a virus rather than bacteria, antibiotics are ineffective in bronchiolitis treatment.

Unless your child has an associated bacterial infection, such as pneumonia, your provider is unlikely to prescribe antibiotics. In some cases, however, your child may require hospital care.

Walking pneumonia

Walking pneumonia can be caused by a bacterium called mycoplasma pneumonia. Approximately 15 to 25 days after exposure to mycoplasma, you may experience symptoms such as:

• Chest pain when taking a deep breath
• Coughing spasms
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Mild flu-like symptoms
• Sore throat
• Weakness

Some people also experience ear infections, anemia and skin rashes. Walking pneumonia is typically treated with antibiotics.

The content provided on the MD Now® website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for receiving medical care and treatment from a qualified healthcare provider. Never delay seeking advice, evaluation and treatment from a medical professional because of what you've read on this site.