colds – Page 3 – watercress words by Dr Aletha

updated January 2, 2025

This information is current as of the date of original publication or update. It may have changed by the time you read this. I invite you to fact-check what you read here.

This information is not intended for diagnosis or treatment. Before making health decisions, discuss with your physician or other qualified healthcare provider to decide what is right for you.

What are the symptoms of winter illnesses?

Chances are you or someone close to you will have a respiratory illness this winter, illnesses we frequently lump into the category of “colds and flu”. This usually means illnesses with some combination of these symptoms-

Sneezing, stuffy or runny nose,
coughing
sore throat, hoarseness
ear pain, fullness
fever,
body aches, fatigue,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
headache.

We call these by various names but they have much in common, including symptoms and treatment. Let’s talk about what you can do to cope when they hit your family.

diagram of the nose and sinuses — Winter illnesses commonly affect the nose, throat, sinuses, ears and lungs.

Don’t panic.

Most otherwise healthy people recover from common respiratory illnesses. You may be miserable for several days and need several weeks to feel back to normal, but you won’t suffer any permanent harm.

Fever , especially in children, alarms parents. Don’t ignore it but don’t panic either.

Reading this post should help you keep calm about fever .

a woman taking her temperature — This photograph depicted a woman who was using a modern, battery-powered oral thermometer, in order to measure her body temperature. In order to return an accurate reading, this particular type of thermometer needed to be placed beneath the user’s tongue, for a set amount of time, beeping when the ambient, sublingual temperature was reached. Photo credit-James Gathany, CDC, public domain

Some people are at risk of developing severe symptoms and serious complications from respiratory illnesses, so seek medical help sooner, rather than later. These include

Infants, especially under one month old
Elderly, now a relative term, advanced age, especially combined with chronic disease
Those with chronic lung disease, like asthma, COPD, emphysema, cystic fibrosis
People on drugs that suppress the immune system
Other chronic diseases – diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, heart disease, cancer

If you are not sure if you fit into one of these categories, ask your doctor.

Check here for tips on the difference between a cold (acute rhino-sinusitis) and flu (influenza)

rhinoceros — “Rhino” obviously means NOSE.

What you need to know about influenza.

Stay home.

This is when you shouldn’t share—germs, that is. These illnesses spread from person to person, so minimize contact.

Keep your kids home from school and stay home from work, at least the first few days, when you are the most contagious. Avoid crowds and public gatherings when there is widespread illness in your community.

Resting, getting extra sleep, drinking fluids, and staying warm and dry make staying at home therapeutic.

Wash hands.

Speaking of person-to-person contact, the best way to avoid getting or giving germs is to wash your hands often, but especially after being with others , using a restroom, and before cooking or eating. Cleaning household surfaces helps too, as well as clothing and linens.

Hand hygiene saves lives. — a common sight now in public restrooms

Use medication wisely.

Some of these illnesses have a specific medication that clear it faster- strep throat, influenza, pneumonia. The others will “run their course” and meds are used to help relieve symptoms.

Many people assume that any illness with fever, sore throat, and cough will improve with an antibiotic. The fact is, most will not. Antibiotics only treat infections caused by bacteria, and most of these are caused by viruses. To learn more read about

How flu and COVID-19 are different

How to navigate the antibiotic highway

These illnesses cause the greatest overuse of antibiotics, contribute to the cost of health care, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Please do not insist on an antibiotic if the doctor says you don’t need it; if offered an antibiotic, ask why.

Does nasal drainage and congestion need treatment with an antibiotic?

Maybe not. Learn how to sort out sinusitis.

WebMD offers this advice on choosing non-prescription cold remedies

Be patient

The “24-hour virus” is for the most part a myth. Expect to be ill anywhere from 3 to 10 days; some symptoms, especially cough, can linger for weeks. If you are a smoker, this is a great time to quit.

But if after 7-10 days you are getting progressively worse, instead of better, something more may be going on, so it’s wise to seek professional medical help.

exploring the HEART of winter illness

Please help your friends by sharing this information (but not your germs) on your social media pages.

I’d love for you to follow this blog. I share information and inspiration to help you turn health challenges into health opportunities.

Add your name to the subscribe box to be notified of new posts by email. Click the link to read the post and browse other content. It’s that simple. No spam.

I enjoy seeing who is new to Watercress Words. When you subscribe, I will visit your blog or website. Thanks and see you next time.

Dr. Aletha

This post has been updated November, 2022

After my series about antibiotic use a reader asked a question about sinus infections.

“How do I know if I need an antibiotic for a sinus infection?”

If you have a bacterial sinus infection with more than mild symptoms, an antibiotic may relieve symptoms and help you recover sooner.

“How do I, or my doctor, know that I have a bacterial sinus infection?”

SORTING OUT SINUSITIS -www.watercresswords.com

Your symptoms may be one of these diagnoses, not bacterial sinusitis

Since the nose and sinuses are directly connected, problems in one part affect the other.

You may have a common cold, medically called acute viral rhinosinusitis. The medical prefix “rhino” refers to the nose, for obvious reasons.

It’s also sometimes called an upper respiratory infection or nasopharyngitis. But the main difference is -it’s caused by a VIRUS, not bacteria. Many viruses cause colds or cold-like illnesses, including SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and influenza.

Allergic rhinitis, commonly just caused “allergies” or hay fever; again, a more correct diagnosis is allergic rhinosinusitis.

a rhinoceros carved into a rock — photo by Dr. Aletha at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Florida

Non-sinus problems

The problem may not come from the sinuses. Other areas in the head may cause symptoms that you or your doctor may believe is due to sinusitis. These include

An abscessed tooth, or other dental problem
Cellulitis, an infection of the deeper layer of the skin
Zoster, known by its common name shingles; prior to the onset of the rash, there may be pain alone
Migraine– the headache of migraine can cause pain in the sinus area

an uncommon sinusitis mimic

Angioedema – You may not be familiar with this, it’s a type of allergic reaction characterized by swelling, mostly in the throat, lips, eyes, and cheeks.

Once a patient called me requesting an antibiotic for a sinus infection. My office nurse wisely scheduled an appointment with me. Rather than a sinus infection, the patient was experiencing angioedema from blood pressure medication. These reactions can progress into life threatening swelling of the throat; I’m glad I didn’t try treating this with an antibiotic.

How do doctors diagnose bacterial sinusitis?

The gold standard for diagnosing any bacterial infection is to identify the bacteria by growing it in a lab, a test called a culture. For that, we need a sample of the tissue or fluid from the infected area. Since the sinuses are deep in the face, there is no easy way to do this. So most of the time we rely on symptoms and exam. We look for

Nasal congestion and/or drainage, which can be any color
Pain and/or pressure in the sinus area including teeth
Fever, which is a temperature above 100 degrees F or 37.7 C
Symptoms have been present at least 7 days without improving

Fever- Keep calm and …

Fever- act on the facts not the fallacies; learn how here #fever#seizures

by Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D. March 4, 2015February 18, 2020

When someone has severe, persistent, or recurrent symptoms suggestive of sinusitis, a physician might obtain xrays, a CT or MRI scan, or look into the sinuses with a scope.

Consider prescribing an antibiotic for sinusitis when–

Symptoms have been present 10 or more days, and/or are worsening
Severe symptoms, such as pain not relieved with mild pain meds or persistent fever,
People with conditions that impair their immune systems, like cancer and its treatment, or people with diabetes
People with allergic rhinitis often seem to be more prone to bacterial sinus infections or take longer to get better

These of course are all general guidelines; every patient, every illness is different, so different approaches may be needed. This is a framework for us to work from, not hard and fast rules.

a rhinoceros — We encountered this rhino during a ride through Animal Kingdom, Disney World, Florida.

Home care for sinusitis

Other ways to feel better when treating sinus infections as well as colds, allergic rhinitis, bronchitis and influenza include rest, increasing oral fluids, and moisturizing the nose and sinuses. (The following includes affiliate links that may pay this blog a commission at no additional cost to you. )

Portable humidifiers are an easy way to relieve dryness in the nose and sinuses.

A Neti pot or sinus rinse bottle are safe, easy ways to relieve dryness, congestion and clear out excess mucous from the nose and sinuses. Always use distilled or boiled water and ask your doctor before using.

Here is a helpful PDF about allergies, colds, and sinusitis

el-allergies-colds-allergies-sinusitis-patient Download

exploring the HEART of health

Thanks,

Dr. Aletha

Tag: colds

How to cope with winter illness

updated January 2, 2025