When is it necessary to see a doctor for cold/flu symptoms?
I have had a sore throat since Thursday (I am a smoker and have quit since Friday), I have had a runny stuffed up nose, congestion, very slight fever, my eye has been building up with excess junk in the mornings sealing my eye closed, I developed some sort of infection in my nose...I don't have insurance, and I have been taking Claritin with psedophedrin, the pharmicist I asked for advice said to see a doctor, but everyone always says see your doctor, do I really have to? I mean, I've been sick for a week, but what can they really do? Sure, they can prescribe me antibiotics if I have something serious, but how do they really know if I do - that seems to be their answer to everything.
Posted by TweetyBird
First off, if you have a cold or flu, it's caused by either a cold or flu virus and antibiotics work on bacteria, not viruses. You probably do not have an infection in your nose. Being a smoker/recent ex-smoker automatically worsens and extends your symptoms.
Colds typically lasts 7-10 days, flu up to 2 weeks. With a smoking history, your symptoms may linger longer than that.
Unless you're seriously respiratory compromised, run a fever consistently above 102, or start experiencing other significantly abnormal symptoms, you don't need to see a doctor. Treat the symptoms. Use a cold/flu medicine and use saline drops to irrigate your eyes frequently throughout the day, Tylenol for the fever if it's over 99.6, plenty of fluids. You know the drill.
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