![]() ![]() Symptoms may differ depending on whether the cause is bacterial or viral, and often linger even after other upper respiratory issues are gone. When a cold, flu, or allergy progresses, nasal cavities can become swollen, and excess fluid in the sinuses can breed germs, leading to sinusitis or rhinosinusitis - viral or bacterial sinus infections that can cause sinus headache or facial pressure. Jerschow says a clue is that “cold season is usually for colds and warm season for allergies!” Seasonal allergies may last several weeks, and can be treated with antihistamines, nasal steroid sprays, and decongestants. If you have watery eyes, or an itchy nose or mouth at certain times of the year, your body is probably fighting allergens, including pollen from trees, weeds, and grasses. When allergies do cause a fever (hence the name hay fever), your temperature will likely remain relatively low, Dr. ![]() Seasonal allergies can feel like a cold because they can cause sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and coughing, but rarely result in a fever. In adults, upper respiratory infections and bronchitis are the most common illnesses caused by RSV and HPIVs symptoms may include fever, runny nose, cough, and sore throat. Danger signs include a barking cough, hoarseness, noisy or high-pitched sounds with breathing, and wheezing. In children, the viruses can cause pneumonia, croup (infection of the upper airway), bronchitis, and bronchiolitis (infection of the smallest airways in the lungs), and in extreme cases can be life-threatening. While anyone can get infected, these viruses can lead to complications in infants and young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, Hitteregger says. Ear Pain, Barking CoughĪccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fever, ear pain, irritability, and decreased appetite can be signs of RSV or human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs). It’s best to seek medical care if your headache persists. Some headaches could be related to a sinus infection. Intense headaches are a common flu symptom and frequently accompany COVID-19 but are rarely a sign of a cold, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Severe HeadachesĪ headache is pain or discomfort in the head or face. Seek medical attention if a fever is very high or lasts over three days. ![]() “A fever with a sore throat but no other cold symptoms can point to strep throat, a bacterial infection.”Ĭontact your healthcare provider if a baby under 3 months old has a fever, or if a fever is accompanied by a seizure or other signs of serious illness such as lethargy, irregular breathing, stiff neck, or confusion, per Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. ![]() “Flu typically comes with a fever greater than 101 degrees F, and chills and body aches, which tend to start immediately, distinguishing it from a cold,” Hinteregger says. A high fever is typically not a cold or allergy symptom but could point to COVID-19, flu, strep throat, or another respiratory illness. High FeverĪ temperature that is higher than normal (97.5 to 98.9 degrees F) lets you know your body is fighting an infection. Wondering if there are any clues at all to help you know if your symptoms are not “just” a cold? Worried because you keep getting sick and think your immune system might be sending up a red flag? Here are some symptoms to pay attention to. Other potential complications include sinus infection (also known as sinusitis, this is an inflammation of the cavities around the nasal passages) and bronchitis (inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the lungs), says Elina Jerschow, MD, a professor of medicine and chair of the division of allergy at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. While a cold won’t typically send you to the emergency room, respiratory infections of all kinds can sometimes lead to serious illnesses, such as pneumonia (infection of the lung’s air sacs). A dozen shared symptoms could signal a cold, COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), seasonal allergies, or something else, making it nearly impossible to know what you have without testing, a doctor’s visit, or both. “There’s no one specific sign that what you have isn’t a cold,” says Erica Hinteregger, a senior physician assistant specializing in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. How do you know whether you have a cold or something else? Or the issue may be flu, strep throat, or another condition that might warrant medical attention. Rest, hydration, and over-the-counter decongestants were probably all you needed to ride out your illness.īut these days, it isn’t as easy to dismiss upper respiratory symptoms as “just a cold.” You may have COVID-19. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, waking up with a runny nose, congestion, sneezing, body aches, sore throat, cough, and maybe a mild fever meant you likely had a cold. ![]()
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