6 warning signs that the condition is worse than the common cold

Colds are respiratory diseases, which occur commonly, caused by viral infections. Although the level is not as severe as the flu, it still causes patients to feel tired, lack of energy for daily activities ... A runny nose, congestion, sneezing, coughing are common signs of the common cold, but the signs below indicate you may have a more serious illness.

1. High fever is not a symptom of a cold

With a cold, the person may have a fever, but it is not common, especially a high fever. Dr. Lai Becker said if you have a fever higher than or equal to 38.5 degrees Celsius, it could be a sign of strep throat. Most patients with streptococcus will have a high fever during the first few days of illness, so be wary of this sudden high temperature. Strep throat, if left untreated, can cause rheumatic fever and lead to serious heart problems, says Dr. Lai Becker. Bacterial sore throat requires treatment with antibiotics, the disease does not go into remission on its own in the way of the common viral cold. Also, strep throat doesn't usually cause symptoms like hoarseness (voice changes), runny nose and cough, which are more common symptoms with the common cold, according to the CDC.

2. Slight fever for days

According to TS. Lai Becker, even if the fever is not too high, a low-grade fever for several days in a row can be a sign that the body is trying to fight a more severe condition than a cold. According to research published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine in May 2022, a constant fever can signal you are suffering from the flu. So keep an eye on your body, even if the fever isn't too high.

3. Stomach problems

Nausea with a cold — as well as vomiting and diarrhea — isn't typical, so these symptoms could signal something more serious, such as the flu. It's important to get medical attention if you experience these symptoms constantly, as they can leave you dehydrated.

4. Chest pain or shortness of breath

Although coughing is a normal symptom of a cold, it's not so severe as to cause shortness of breath, wheezing, or chest pain. These symptoms should not be ignored because shortness of breath can be a sign of bronchitis or pneumonia. At the same time, sudden chest pain and shortness of breath can signal a pulmonary embolism (a blood clot in the lungs), according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

5. Symptoms in one location, area

While cold symptoms affect the entire upper respiratory system, other illnesses are characterized by intense symptoms in one location, area... For example, streptococcal bacteria cause a sore throat that makes swallowing difficult but normally won't cause pain throughout the body. Sinus infections can cause headaches and even toothaches; Ear infections often cause pain and congestion in one ear... So when you see symptoms in one location, area be alert, it's not a common cold.

6. Body aches and pains

The common cold does not cause systemic aches and pains. On the other hand, the flu can make your muscles and body feel sore and can also be accompanied by fatigue and chills, exhaustion, etc.