When to See a Doctor
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Video Description:It's just a cold, right? Maybe not. Watch for these symptoms, which could indicate a more serious problem.
Transcript:When you and your family are feeling under the weather you want the very best medical advice you can get – but sometimes you also want the comfort and simplicity of being taken care of by mom. Dr. Mom has been practicing medicine for over 30 years, but she’s also a mom who raised two kids, one husband, and two golden retrievers. Most of the time when we are sick, we get better with rest and time. But sometimes, we need some help from the Doctor to get well. Dr. Mom has some tips on when you should go to the doctor. Having the cold or the flu is no fun. The good news is that most people recover from the flu in a few days, and from colds in a week. But not everything that seems like a cold or the flu is really that innocuous. Here are some symptoms to watch out for. If you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms then you need to seek medical attention as soon as possible. One unambiguous symptom to be on the lookout for is earache. If you have an earache, during a cold, chances are that you have a bacterial infection, and you will need antibiotics in order to get better. Another fairly distinct symptom to be on the alert for is green mucus. If your mucus is green, be sure to see your physician immediately, as this is often a symptom of pneumonia or bronchitis. Neither a cold nor the flu should not make you short of breath or cause pain in your chest. If you are experiencing either of these symptoms, it could indicate a more serious problem like pneumonia or heart disease, so please call your physician. Painful swallowing is also not a normal symptom of cold. It can often be the sign of an infection or injury that needs to be treated by a doctor. If you have a fever of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, or a fever that lasts more than 3 days, then you see your doctor to make sure you don’t have a secondary infection. Vomiting while you have a cold poses a serious danger of dehydration. Try to drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. If you are unable to keep the fluids down, you may need to go to the hospital to receive fluids intravenously. The other important factor to be aware of is time. The length of time that a cold or a symptom affects you is an important indicator of whether you need to see a doctor. For example, a typical cough is nothing to worry about, but a persistent cough that lasts for more than 2 weeks could be a sign of an infection. Similarly, congestion is a common cold symptom, but if your congestion does not go away with medication for several weeks, you may need to be treated for a sinus infection. See your doctor if either of these symptoms persist. If your cold lasts for “too long”, that is also an important indicator that you should see a doctor. How long is “too long?” It depends on who the patient is. For newborns, any cold is too long. At the first sign of cold or flu symptoms, take your child to the pediatrician immediately. If you are pregnant, or nursing a baby, then if the cold persists for longer than three days it could be dangerous for you and the baby. For everyone else, cold and flu symptoms should run their course in 7 days or less. If your cold lasts longer than that, it is time to see a doctor. Remember, cold and flu symptoms are usually indicative of a comment ailment, so don’t worry unnecessarily. But, it is smart to be on the lookout for indications that you might need a doctor’s care, and respond appropriately. I’m Dr. Mom, and thanks for listening. Want to learn more? Check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.
Category:General Health/Cold & Flu
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